Houston Barbecue Restaurant Burns To Ground

HOUSTON, TX — It took 50 to 60 firefighters to tame the fire, whose flames could be seen for miles, and when it was over on Thursday morning, Charlie's BBQ, a staple in the area since 1979, was no more. Don Gilkey, a deputy chief with the Little York Fire Department, said the building was a total loss.

"We did have high winds today and it spread the fire pretty quickly, and without any water supply or water suppression you lose control of the fire very quickly," Gilkey said, as reported by KPRC. Gilkey said firefighters had to bring in water from around the county, because there was not a hydrant sufficiently close to the restaurant. Seven tankers carried water to the scene of the fire, according to KPRC.

Gilkey added that the lack of water delayed firefighters by 30 to 45 minutes. "There's already some portion of the restaurant that could have been saved; of course, that fire was already through the roof, but the damage was done," he said. "But any kind of water supply could have helped us save whatever we can for the owner."

Responding to the fire at Charlie's BBQ, county officials shut off electrical power in the area as a precaution, and the cause of the blaze is under investigation. There were no reported injuries.

— Image: Charlie's BBQ