Flames swept through Building 13 at North Village Green Condominiums off Plaza Verde Drive late Monday, officials said.
HOUSTON — Dozens of residents were displaced late Monday when a three-alarm fire ripped through a cluster of condo units at 218 Plaza Verde Drive in the Greater Greenspoint area, according to the Houston Fire Department. A mayday was declared after a firefighter fell through a floor; crews pulled the firefighter out safely.
The incident triggered one of the city’s larger residential responses in recent weeks, bringing engines, ladder trucks and rescue teams from multiple stations. Commanders said strong winds and the building’s shared attic spaces allowed flames to move quickly, prompting the third alarm. While at least 18 units sustained fire damage and additional homes took smoke and water, officials reported no civilian injuries. The American Red Cross deployed overnight to assist families with temporary lodging and supplies while investigators worked to determine how the blaze began.
Witnesses first saw smoke shortly after 9 p.m. from the second floor of Building 13. Crews advanced lines into the structure while others searched adjacent units. Within minutes, a firefighter operating inside fell through a compromised floor. “The mayday was answered immediately, and the firefighter was removed and evaluated,” Senior Capt. Raul Reyes said at the scene. Command repositioned to a mix of interior and exterior operations, using ladder pipes to cool the roof and handlines to hold fire at the breezeways. Residents described alarms sounding and doors being knocked as smoke thickened along the courtyard.
By the height of the response, black smoke rose above Plaza Verde Drive and drifted toward the North Freeway. Fire officers reported visible fire in multiple units and heat in the shared attic. Utilities to the affected building group were shut off as a precaution. The rescued firefighter was checked by EMS and returned to duty, according to officials. No residents required transport. Property managers began accounting for occupants as volunteers offered blankets and water in the parking lot. Crews stayed for hours to open walls and eaves, knocking down pockets of heat while investigators marked potential points of origin for follow-up.
The condo complex sits among several large residential communities that have seen significant fires over the years, often driven by wind and older construction features that can hide flames in void spaces. Houston’s fire department has emphasized coordinated radio traffic and rapid mayday response after previous incidents elsewhere in the city left firefighters hurt. Monday’s response showed those protocols in action as on-scene commanders shifted tactics, called additional alarms and staged medics for immediate treatment. Neighbors noted the speed of the arrival, with multiple engines and ladders filling the street within minutes of the first sirens.
Investigators planned daytime inspections Tuesday to collect photographs, examine electrical service and interview residents and maintenance staff. Adjusters for the homeowners association and private insurers are expected to join the walkthrough. The city’s building inspectors could restrict access to certain units if structural hazards are found. Officials did not provide a damage estimate overnight and said the final displacement count would take time, since some units suffered heavy water damage even if fire never reached them. Any formal report on cause and origin typically follows within days after lab reviews and interviews.
Residents filtered back to the scene before sunrise to see what was left. “We grabbed our keys and ran,” said Kiana Brooks, who lives near the affected building. “You could feel the heat in the courtyard.” Across the lot, Anthony Ramirez said he watched firefighters cut ventilation holes along the roofline to stop the fire’s run. “They kept checking on people and then went right back to work,” he said. By dawn, only small wisps of smoke hovered over the rafters while crews packed hose and investigators taped off the stairwells.
As of early Tuesday, the cause remained under investigation. The complex’s Building 13 will stay without power and gas pending inspections. Fire officials said a more detailed update, including a refined unit count and damage estimate, is expected later Tuesday after daylight assessments. Families from the most damaged units are arranging temporary housing with help from the Red Cross and the homeowners association.
Author note: Last updated December 2, 2025.