I-10 smoke: Large fire at vacant, boarded up hotel near East Freeway in Channelview is 3rd one in last 2 months, officials say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Dark smoke filled the air Friday morning, resulting from a large hotel fire that could be seen from the East Freeway heading towards Baytown.

Houston TranStar video shows the black smoke was growing larger from the Fairfield Inn & Suites near IH-10 and Sheldon.

The Houston Fire Department said a firefighter who was passing by reported that the vacant hotel was on fire in the Channelview area.

The feeder road eastbound was impacted by the smoke as crews worked to put out the flames.

WATCH: Time-lapse shows fire growing rapidly at Fairfield Inn & Suites

The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office said the eastbound frontage road past Sheldon and parts of Sheldon were closed to allow the flow of the main water supply.

Across the street from the hotel, Mark Embry from Lyol Brothers’ Collision told Eyewitness News that he saw the fire quickly escalating while the roof collapsed.

“It started as a little flame,” Embry said. “Within minutes, you could hear an explosion, and then ‘Boom.’ The whole roof started going up in flames.”

It’s unclear what led to the fire or if anyone was hurt. The fire came about two weeks after authorities were investigating an arson that took place at the same hotel, on May 10.

Investigators said the homeless community is known to seek shelter at the vacant hotel.

Brandi Dumas, with the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, said another fire had happened at this hotel when it was in business in March. The cause of that fire was left undetermined.

SkyEye was above Friday’s fire, where crews could be seen hosing down the massive blaze. ABC13 Reporter Tammy Rose said that from a bird’s-eye view, it appears the hotel was not occupied.

ABC13 Meteorologist Kevin Roth said winds are relatively light, at 9 mph, but will gradually increase throughout the day. Roth says Houston’s humidity worked in our favor due to the moisture, making it more difficult for a fire to spread.

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