This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7113746.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Crews battle Texas high-rise fire Crews battle Texas high-rise fire
(about 7 hours later)
A rescue operation is under way after a fire broke out at a retirement complex in the US city of Houston, Texas. At least 75 firefighters battled flames to save 250 elderly people after a fire broke out at a retirement complex in the US city of Houston, Texas.
US television footage showed flames and smoke pouring from what appeared to be the fifth or the sixth floor of the eight-floor building. US television footage showed flames and smoke pouring from the sixth floor of the eight-storey building.
At least 75 firefighters are trying to lead some 250 elderly residents of the building to safety, using ladders. Officials said 12 people were rescued from the fire using ladder trucks and three people were taken to hospital.
There has been no word on injuries or the cause of the fire, which broke out about 1000 local time (1600 GMT). There has been no word on the cause of the fire which broke out about 1000 (1600 GMT) and was put out in one hour.
Several of the home's residents have been rescued by the firefighters, reports say. Firefighters went through the 210-unit building and helped other residents leave via the stairwells and ground floor exits.
One person was seen being led to safety by a firefighter. Many of the building's residents waited outside in their pyjamas as firefighters doused the flames.
"The fire is confined; the fire is not spreading," Beda Kent of the city's fire department was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. "We're making plans on accommodating them this evening and for the near future in accommodations that we own," said Steve Mikelman of the Houston Housing Authority, the building's operator.
The building is located in the 7200-block of Bellerive, in the south-western part of the city. The Bellerive Senior High Rise is located in the 7200-block of Bellerive, in the south-western part of the city.
It is owned by the Houston Housing Authority, the AP reports. It provides public housing for low-income elderly residents who do not need care.
City officials said the building met fire and structural safety codes.