Firefighters from the City of Houston, Raymondville and Licking fire departments responded at about 8:50 p.m. Sunday to a structure fire at a former Laundromat at Mill and Wilson streets in Raymondville.
Authorities reported that Houston sent its ladder truck and a crew of six, Licking brought two tankers and a pumper truck and about 15 personnel, while Raymondville sent a pumper and five firefighters. After being a Laundromat, the building had reportedly been converted into living spaces, but had been vacant for several years.
The building was a total loss, and crews on the scene mainly worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby homes. Siding on a home across the street from the fire reportedly melted from the heat.
Authorities deemed the fire suspicious, and the fire marshal’s office and Texas County Sheriff’s Department are investigating.