Huge 7-alarm warehouse fire in Houston in 1995

June 24, 1995, a huge fire broke out at the Houston Distribution Warehouse on Market St. Two-thirds of the on-duty Fire Department staff was called to the blaze.
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[@robdog1245]

Legend has it that fire is still going and the firemen are still scratching themselves and waiting for water

[@bobbybrooks1429]

😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😯😣

[@bobbybrooks1429]

Noyagoodtofindoutthatyoreen

[@bobbybrooks1429]

Good faith in the lots of love

[@safetyinspectorbisho]

I worked down the street, approximately 50 yards from the Houston Distribution Center and I remember this fire. Yes, the center was storing different chemicals throughout the warehouse and there was a need to find out exactly what was being stored before any attempt to put water on the fire. As a result their was contamination surrounding the soil around the building and into the neighborhood right behind the distribution center. A class action lawsuit was filed against the Distribution Center from the residential community because of the contamination, several people became sick, etc. I remember that for approximately 2 years after, the area was off-limits, they had boarded up the area with a large wooden picket fence and started doing soil removal.

[@CardioEnf]

It would be much safer for everyone if this company did not stay within an urban area.

[@peterp1158]

@@CardioEnf Houston does not have zoning laws. Anything could end up being your neighbor

[@portagepete1]

They should have a fire proof place where this stuff is stored.

[@Kellster69er]

Love how the people watching it are so calm

[@nellAyaR2034]

Why would they not be? What are they gonna be able to do about it? Might as well sit back & enjoy the show

[@TheHolyMongolEmpire]

Man this vhs camcorder was bomb. Higher quality than some videos today.

[@bryfunkenstein]

The video is from a news crew that was on the scene. Pretty sure they were using commercial digital beta tape...not vhs

[@Sonic-sh2vh]

Outstanding video quality for 1995.

[@chazchavara3192]

Those old VHS videos really gad better quality than I remembered. They tend to get fuzzy when you zoom in, but zoomed out the picture is quiet clear (for the time.)

[@Konzeptionz]

It really isnt. Phones have only recently had good video quality, so people tend to forget that actual video cameras have been around for more than a 100 years.

[@feraltaco4783]

I thought the same thing.

[@100wangyirenbiased2]

Ikrr

[@davidca96]

There are aspects about analog video that still make it look more real than digital. Analog has the problem of never being exactly the same though like digital and generation loss is impossible to avoid.

[@feraltaco4783]

It's like the gates of Hell opened in that one building.

It's amazing how slow these fireman move

@SRV. 123 Ever seen navy personnel put out a fire on a aircraft carrier, that's what I recommend Einstein

[@stevewhitehouse1660]

Wouldn't pay them in washers !!!!!

[@kentcarter835]

@ you are comparing two entirely different situations. This is not an aircraft with a pilot and crew aboard. This is a structure that is going to burn for awhile and all the running around in the world won't change that. Try running in full structural firefighting gear, in Houston in the summer. You won't last long, I don't care how athletic you think you are.

[@wolfgang548]

Houston, we have a problem.

[@68walter]

Wolfgang548 , it is called “the fire department”😑

[@henribruyere2922]

Wolfgang548 😂😂😂

[@worm993]

Walter99 you didn’t get the joke

[@iancanty9875]

I hope they had a smoke detector installed to warn people it was on fire! 🥴😂

[@SD40Fan_Jason]

All because someone couldn't return the Red Swingline Stapler...

[@mikegallant811]

Or wouldn't let Milton have some cake......

[@suvzu7409]

I like how calm the people are 😂

[@Brulzie61]

3:07 'we're gonna be here for awhile' ..... Are you waiting for it to rain? . Is it out yet?

[@noe29933]

Very good

[@davidh807]

I have a question. Why is it that EVERYONE assumes there is nothing being done, when you can ONLY see part of the building from one angle? You can't see ANYTHING going on on the left side of the building, the back, or even the far right. ???

[@eddielane9569]

We don't know anything else was being done. Not much was being done on the side we can see.

[@andrewfrost8422]

I’m not a fire fighter but clearly the fire crew had a massive task in putting out this fire. So I’m not here to give advise or criticise as I’m leaving that to the high number of ‘experts’ leaving messages. Although I would like to say keep up the good work to the fire service.

[@johnnycee5179]

That's more air pollution then my car would ever give off.

[@coachtuffy1460]

I don't understand rushing down the road, blowing sirens and air horns to get there, and then when they get there, they walk around waiting for the hotdogs to arrive?

[@scooterbobscout]

A fire engine with a Detroit!? Fuck yea!

[@RageTVHTX]

I remember this fire.

[@benzbetz8420]

Wow look how black that smoke is, I wouldn’t be getting any closer to the building that’s for sure!

[@glennhuber4975]

Benz Betz that’s why you don’t see anyone rushing.. no point now. The building is a loss

[@chocoley76]

wow look how blac requinto no Google Oye Yes Google no

[@manjrasuhail5816]

Fir

[@mikegallant811]

Surround and drown!🤗

[@AlonsoRules]

there would be asbestos in that building for sure

[@Lil-Rmg_FishYY]

The sun: I can’t ever win if it’s not a fire it’s a cloud

[@marianruhlicke8810]

Wow ,thats amazing 😳

[@bryfunkenstein]

Let me explain this to you so a lot of you will understand. I live in the neighborhood behind those warehouses. That Saturday morning I was cutting the yard. The sky went black all of a sudden. I got scared be cause one side of the sky was blue and the other side was black. The reason why the fire department was so slow to react was because there was a massive explosion. I didn't hear it...possibly due to mowing my yard...but it had to been because the fireball was HUGE. it blocked the sun. The fire was so large that I thought it was coming from the local middle school...which is about halfway between my house and the warehouses. At the end of my side street near a park you can SEE the flames about maybe half a mile away. Fun fact: they were storing solid rocket motor fuel (powdered aluminum) there. It reignited twice over the course of some weeks... From my understanding there were not enough watermains in the area for a fire (7 alarm) that size. Furthermore...nobody would confess what they were storing 20 yards away from a residential community so HFD were hesitant to just throw water on it...might have made it worse.

[@WiIdbiII]

What area of Houston is this? What main road?

[@bryfunkenstein]

@@WiIdbiII the warehouses are on market. the cross street is gellhorn. They are across the street from the Budweiser brewery

[@lenyelrivera2407]

The camera quality is better than my iphone one

[@dannyb6030]

i mean at the start it looked like 1 of the firemen was drinking a beer

[@mrgoggles1963]

Prolly a lite beer, ...typical Merrcan...ya hearrrrrrr?

[@andytheartist1]

This is what you call a stucco foam building! A tornado would wipe it out as well

[@KermitTheFud]

Should be banned, how it is still legally permitted for use as insulation and otherwise is beyond me

[@tyronesandoval2348]

The fire departments just driving around.

[@jamesfraser4173]

Must have been an incredible fire load!

[@ropinhorseman924]

Typical of today's distribution centers and big box stores. As a fire protection specialist, these facilities are "Doomed" as soon as the fire breaks through the roof. Down comes the roof sections bringing automatic sprinkler piping leaving wide open piping to do little. Next time you go in any big box store, look how high the cardboard boxes are stored ; right up into the AS piping. Best thing is to Evacuate quickly and get safely. Buildings and Contents are insured, but jobs are lost!

[@jimzplace]

dont put water on a FIRE!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO

[@randyfunk7691]

Fireman just standing around

[@carmelitajenkins5057]

Randy Funk . J CT vv bjbn !

[@BIGDROC99]

Do want them to go inside?

[@ShortArmOfGod]

Are they supposed to go inside with fire extinguishers? Only LDH's will have any effect on a fire that size.......and each firefighter doesn't get their own.

[@marcbach5880]

Lots of people walking around. Anybody planning to put some water on it?

[@Futurefirefighterparamedic]

I have never even heard of a 7 alarm wow I thought 4 was the most

[@northwinds9155]

i don't get it... firemen response time is lightning fast but when they arrived at the scene they are taking there time

[@aboriani]

LOL so true... when the alarm goes, they scram to the trucks and god forbids if there is a car slightly impeding their way, but when they get there, it's just another chill day on the job

[@davidhoffman1278]

Did the place have a sprinkler system?

[@jmsnwrly9251]

Christopher Dibble the building was a complete loss no point risking lives

[@chrisoralls6022]

@@jmsnwrly9251 Master streams and an immense amount of water. Totally defensive.

[@davehibbs9111]

Stand around and see if it puts itself out!!

[@danhutson3460]

That one obese man would have a difficult time trying to run away.

[@charlesbonner5081]

FD probably knew what was in the building. Company made greases and other lubricants and use of water would most likely just spread the fire. This fire also must have a very high heat output which most likely water wouldn't be enought to stop it. So I would say just protect what's not burning and let the hazard burn itself out. Evacuate area until smoke clears.

[@richardsimpson3136]

FIREMEN aren't doing a DAMN THING to put this FIRE OUT!!!

[@dennishopkins8923]

Can one hose put that out? I think they could be waiting for a helicopter. I don’t know a lot about it though.

[@carterscott6500]

The heat would probably vaporize the water before it hit the fire

[@SmoothBore-iq9wp]

I’m a firefighter and with a fire this size you literally have to let it burn off a bit before you take action. Smoke like that is called “black fire” and burns at 1000 degrees or more. So if the captain send people inside, they’d literally be sending firefighters into their death

[@kentcarter835]

@@SmoothBore-iq9wp no sir. That is not black fire.

[@arcticmn9790]

@@kentcarter835 It’s a term for the smoke.

[@trevenflynn4780]

everybody dressed fresh af in 1995 sheesh

[@johnveglio4433]

6:02 minute video and I didn't see one drop of water sprayed until 4 and a half minutes into the video. Were they waiting for the fire to burn itself out ????

[@patrickc9768]

John Veglio do you honestly think anything would have changed the outcome?? What’s the hurry at that point

[@teresaeljinini7850]

they got some sandwiches and stuff.

[@randomjojosfan1178]

There is a fire this size I JUST witnessed in Utica mi. It was huge!

[@GunfighterWyo]

At the start it looks like they have more water in the parking lot than on the fire....

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

Don't see much firefighting in this video.

[@KW-fe5ye]

That's for damn sure! Smh

[@alex-marquette]

with a fire that size, you don't attack it. You protect the exposures around the building and let it basically burn it's fuel out.

[@slackjawedyokel1]

80 % of that water on the ground wasnt run off , it was sweat

[@FreemanWithrow]

Absolutely nothing you can do with a large fire like that but allow it too burn it’s fuel off to a point where you can attack it .

[@armouroflightstudios4952]

Hey, can I please use this in our upcoming film?

[@KermitTheFud]

Whats the film about man?

[@KermitTheFud]

Jason Marden damn, thats a movie id pay good money to see my guy 😂

[@ashley101verve]

Definitely a big fire 🔥

[@danhutson3460]

I don't think I would be standing so close, dilly-dallying as a potential conflagration was right in front of me.

[@robertyoung3992]

Houston itself would have to catch fire for it to be a conflagration

[@popia1956]

No se si es porque prácticamente se quemó el inmueble ; pero me parecen demasiado lentos los bomberos 🚒

[@roncheetham673]

how did it develop so without intervention ?

[@SN-nh6pq]

ROFLMAO “the Salvation Army has sandwiches waiting for us”….. Houston Fire Dept, “we’ll show up bring som ribs & have a cookout”..great job guys.

[@drewski8138]

I heard salvation army but noooooooo….really??😂😂🤫

[@maxpower8916]

Shouldn't have put that mix tape on in the office.

[@hosaniralinhares1571]

Nossa que absurdo Os bombeiros só chega e ficam olhando e nada fazem...

[@christianjackson4093]

Video is from 26 years ago and it looks like it was recorded 2 days ago 😂😂

[@TheNilda437]

God bless those heroes

[@nickviner1225]

Not much fire fighting going on.

[@littlewishy6432]

Air quality must have been ruined that day

[@noe29933]

Ruined that year

[@Lil-Rmg_FishYY]

So true dude

[@mlkmlk1957]

WAS THERE A WATER SHORTAGE ?????

[@raymondginn8085]

Why in the world are the aerial trucks setting idle?

[@larryziel9472]

What’s a 7 alarm fire in Houston

[@Ponykotze]

Waiting 7 hrs until rolling out the first water hose

[@holyreality02]

does anyone know if people were hurt in this fire?

[@jeffschindel8620]

Beg my pardon, But why don’t they just go back to the station and go back to sleep!!!

[@pabuffa]

Is it out yet?

[@RajeshKumar-kj5pm]

੭ਲ ੨ੁ6੬ਤਰੜੁ

[@johnnycee5179]

I made the mistake once of trying to drive a few miles to get closer to a fire, a curiosity thing. I'll never do that again, traffic seriously backed up, redirected, it was a mess.

[@AGHRJohnP]

Texas knows how to barbecue!

[@song9119]

It’s a pretty clear video for 1995

[@EsmaKadir]

Singer it look like 1995 but why is there 720p I was expecting only 144p

[@retiredarthritic2083]

@@EsmaKadir Most likely the video quality was set for 720p when the original video was transferred to the format used to produce this video.

[@benjaminsorenson]

@@retiredarthritic2083 yep what you said. People got to also remember even back in 95 VHS was still very popular in use. So someone had to transfer that tape recording onto a media that was/would make it possible to have it become digital and to then have quality options available.

[@KLOCKI_FILM_TUBE]

Oh my Daisy

[@susanwahl6322]

Those are some tired looking firefighters.

[@wewillalldie...8001]

Why just PEPOLE walking though and not screaming and not sceard

[@P4hs]

New word: "FOREGONE."

[@daviddarcy5355]

Is this fire still burning ?

[@robertrussell7388]

That's awful the Houston fire standing around while the place burns

[@Canopus68]

Ladder 45 to command, where's the fire?

[@robertrussell7388]

Get a main hose line on and start attacking the fire.EARN YOUR PAYCHECK

[@mickhunter4782]

Why is it that the American Fire Brigade always walk around watching the fire being out of control and no hoses on the go😡🤬

[@AbelG8781]

U dont see the hoses laid out already?????

[@michaelsorrells4649]

This happen 24 year ago

[@jimjonrs3932]

Wow!

[@jacoboeugenio]

Lentos, indecisos, dudibativos, lamentable. Perder 10 minutos antes de atacer el incendio es absurdo, llegan a remojar las brasas.

[@aaaeee2862]

If we had a big helicopter, with a Bambi bucket, this fire would be put out fast.

[@peterbarlow7781]

Look at the fashions in ‘95!

[@hillbilly4555]

Lmao fire fighters look like there to full to fight the fire , full from a happymeal

[@thangquocnguyenmdp]

No looting?

[@cpcattin]

Sorry, it’s time for our 15 minute break. We’ll be at Denny’s

[@ibraheem9908]

Looks like a volcano

[@brandonreynolds7697]

how did it start the fire

[@TheKonga88]

Giant ants started it because the factory owner wouldn't give them any Bazooka Joe bubble gum.. 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃👴👵👩👮👷

[@tonyt5919]

@@TheKonga88 oh shit, you again, those bastard giant ants get about, they were mating in Ireland a while ago,!

[@colleb95]

@@TheKonga88 LMAO. 😂

[@davef5277]

20 years from now electric fire trucks? Naaaa.

[@______-id5ud]

this just in...25 years later the fire is out!

[@brendenstahl7007]

My grandpa remembers this fire he told me about it. Why do The Houston fire trucks look the same?

[@amyjojinkerson6745]

It looks like some of these firefighters are on vacation here

[@davidevans9016]

Are the firefighters waiting for the fire to get bigger before they put it Out!!!!!

[@Barefoot0Walker]

it looks as if the houston distribution co won’t be distributing anything for a while! what was in there to make all that black smoke and those fireballs? definitely a losing situation for firefighters! in any event, a nice video of a very dangerous fire.

[@lappilappland3708]

At 0:11 is that a Firetruck or a Firestation siren ?

[@cats9254]

i think a fire truck but im not sure usually fire sirens have an ongoing tone

[@AbelG8781]

Firetruck for sure. I own an FS model 5 back home and it sounds way different.

[@kennethhuff7158]

Why does it take so long to began putting water on fire.

[@macofire]

let it burn...go back to the station...have some ice cream

[@jetranger5076]

What a bunch of disinterested fire fighters walking around like they cant be bothered

[@jeffbecker9809]

why call the fire dept. ? they arent doing anytjing.

[@danhutson3460]

None of these guys speak English.

[@kathyholmes8881]

Why does it seem like the guys just looking at the burning structure for a while before the hoses are used?

[@retiredarthritic2083]

Planning any coordinated fire attack requires situational awareness and the only way to achieve that is to observe the fire and how it is behaving.

[@maidenfan4927]

Retired Arthritic ...gimme a break. They were laughing and meandering around. Was pathetic to watch

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

Planning is wonderful but need to plan on the move. WAAAY too slow.

[@retiredarthritic2083]

@@maidenfan4927 there was someone laughing off Camera but at no time did I see firefighters laughing on Camera as for those standing around and there are several reasons for that Rehab is when the firefighters are pulled off the fire to rest cool down and rehydrate RIT Rapid Intervention Team these are fire fighters that must be assembled and ready to act if there are firefighters in trouble. Third is newly arriving firefighters arriving on scene and are awaiting assignment orders to be able to coordinate their efforts with firefighters already onscene. If you think you are so brilliant try signing up an doing some actual firefighting I did. There is far more going on than even the public watching the fire at the scene can be aware of. The firefighters At 1:38 are heading for rehab to recover from their turn on the pipes or the truck work they were doing.

[@glennhuber4975]

Maiden Fan and your comment is pathetic to read

[@meudiario8524]

,eu não entendo tem tanto treinamento,chega na hora demora, guando decide apaga ,aí já era o fogo já consumiu com tudo

[@jeffreyschindel2114]

Houston we have a problem!!!

[@alannewport4553]

Not a lot of water going on just let it burn out

[@fernandopecina4138]

Back when Fire was hotter and water was wetter! When men where made of steel and the ladders where made of wood!

[@RSRivera613]

Thts one hack of a fire to fight ...