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A Texas woman, Crystal D. Randall, faces charges of reckless arson after a fire tore through the Southlake Villas apartments in Harris County. The incident occurred on Monday morning (January 5) when Randall allegedly burned her boyfriend's clothes in a barbecue pit on an apartment patio.
According to the Harris County Fire Marshal, the fire started following a domestic dispute. Although Randall attempted to extinguish the flames, they rekindled and spread to the building, causing severe damage. The Sheldon Fire Department reported that 13 apartment units were "heavily and irreparably damaged," with several roofs collapsing.
Witness Mario Thompson described the scene to KTRK, saying, "The roof had caved in. It was like stuff falling off the back." Fortunately, all residents evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported among them. However, one firefighter sustained injuries while battling a rekindled hotspot and is in stable condition at a hospital.
Randall was taken to a hospital for unknown reasons following her arrest.