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Houston fire: Five-alarm fire 'under control' after 2.5 hours of fighting

Houston fire officials said more than 200 emergency personnel were at the scene Tuesday afternoon and were working to protect nearby buildings.

A聽fire聽that destroyed a large apartment complex under construction in聽Houston聽was under control by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, according to authorities.

The聽Houston聽Fire聽Department said the blaze that sent thick, black smoke billowing in to the sky and drew hundreds of emergency personnel was "under control" about two-and-a-half hours after it started.

All construction workers who had been in the high-rise building were accounted for, and no injuries have been reported.

Houston聽Fire聽Department spokesman Capt. Ruy Lozano told the聽Houston聽Chronicle聽that 聽as he prepared to jump to safety.聽Fire聽officials said more than聽200 emergency personnel had聽responded to the scene.

The cause of the聽fire聽is under investigation.

Lozano told the newspaper that high winds caused the聽fire聽to spread quickly. Much of the building was reduced to rubble Tuesday.

The dramatic blaze first was reported about 12:30 p.m. The聽fire聽was upgraded to a five-alarm call about an hour later.

Lash LaRue told the newspaper that he was installing phone lines on the聽fifth floor of the building when he heard a loud crash and then saw the ceiling collapsing and flames shooting through.

"It was wicked," LaRue said.

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