Vagrants may be to blame for east Houston house fire

An east Houston home is burned to the ground and crack heads may be to blame.

ABC13 Eyewitness News
(01/25/05 - HOUSTON) — A homeowner blames drug users for setting his east Houston duplex on fire overnight.

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Heavy smoke and flames filled the area around Moses and Bringhurst after the fire broke out around 12:30am. Two firefighters escaped unscathed when the front porch collapsed just in front of them. They were able to crawl out safely.

The owner had just inherited the home and says thieves have been looting through his stuff. That's what makes him so suspicious of this morning's fire.

"I have a feeling that some crack heads were in my house," said homeowner Gary Smalley. "I've been running them out."

Arson investigators will search what's left of the home to see if that owner's suspicions are right.