WEBSTER, Texas Two children were dead and another left clinging to life Thursday after an early-morning fire swept through a Webster apartment complex.
Authorities said Dana Novak, her four kids and her two brothers were at their home in the Skylar Point Apartments in the 1200 block of El Camino Village when the fire broke out.
Firefighters arrived around 4:40 a.m. to find the building completely engulfed in flames.
Firefighters said Novak ran out of her burning apartment carrying her 4-year-old son, Nicholas, then attempted to go back in for the others. Firefighters joined in, pulling two kids from the inferno, but one of the children remained missing.
Neighbors said they felt helpless.
I heard the little kids screaming, but couldn t get to them, said Brandon Moore. Nothing you could do, but just sit back and watch.
After the fire was put out, the missing child s body was found.
Nobody could have survived the blaze, the flames were too intense, said Webster Fire Chief Patrick Shipp.
Firefighters were shaken up at the scene.
Novak was taken to Clear Lake Regional Hospital for treatment. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening. Her 5-year-old son, Nathaniel, was taken to Memorial Hermann, where he remained on life support Thursday evening. .
Twelve-year-old Kaitlyn, a student at Space City Intermediate, and 8-year-old Christian, who attended Armond Bayou Elementary, were killed.
Novak s brothers made it out safely.
Five units were completely destroyed. The cause of the fire was not yet known, but appeared to have started in the attic, fire officials said.
Residents of the complex said there have been a number of fires there in the past that also started in the attic.
They blamed the management company, Bell Properties.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Bell Properties expressed their condolences to the family.
We are deeply saddened by the tragic fire that occurred here in the early morning of November 11, 2010. Our sincere sympathies go out to the families and those affected. We are very thankful to the Webster Fire Department who responded to the emergency. They are in charge of the investigation and we are referring all inquiries to them. Our greatest concern is taking care of the needs of our residents who have been affected by this tragedy.
Family members said there was only one smoke alarm in the home, but it was downstairs not upstairs where the family was sleeping.
Multiple agencies worked the scene, including the Webster Fire Department, Webster Police Department, League City Fire Department, Nassau Bay Fire Department, Forrest Bend Fire Department and CLEMC.
