Texas woman started fire at apartment complex after burning boyfriend's clothes
The fire got out of control and ravaged a residential complex, leaving irreparable damage to at least 13 homes
A woman was charged with reckless arson in Harris County, Texas, after she allegedly burned her boyfriend's clothes on a grill. The fire got out of control and ravaged a residential complex, leaving irreparable damage to at least 13 homes. Harris County authorities identified the suspect as Crystal D. Randall, who was charged in connection with the fire that occurred Monday morning at the Southlake Villas apartments, north of Houston. According to investigators, the fire started after a domestic dispute. Randall allegedly set fire to her boyfriend's clothes on a barbecue located in the patio of one of the apartments. The fire reigned and spread to the building. Although the woman initially tried to extinguish the flames, the fire reignited and quickly spread to the structure of the residential complex, firefighters reported. The Sheldon Fire Department stated that 13 units were "severely and irreparably damaged," forcing dozens of residents to evacuate. "It spread all the way here. The roof collapsed. It was like something was coming down behind us," witness Mario Thompson told local media. Evacuation without fatalities, but with one firefighter injured. Authorities confirmed that all residents managed to leave the building without injury. However, an ember reignited a fire hours later, forcing emergency crews to return to the scene. During these efforts, a firefighter was injured and taken to a hospital, where he remains in stable condition. Criminal Charges and Hospitalization: Crystal D. Randall was formally charged with reckless arson and subsequently to a hospital for reasons not detailed by authorities. The investigation continues as authorities assess the full impact of the incident and the legal liabilities arising from it.

