This article was originally published in The Examiner on Nov. 16, 2017.
By Eleanor Skelton
Staff Writer
Beaumont firefighters didn’t get much downtown from their busy weekend in which a fire at Glen Oaks Apartments damaged 50 apartments and a home in Beaumont’s North End was declared a total loss.
911 dispatchers received a call about a smoking building in the 5100 block of Hunter Street near Lamar University, Beaumont Fire-Rescue Capt. Jimmy Blanchard said in a news release posted to the department’s Facebook page.
Firefighters who arrived at the scene found a vacant church building with the second floor ablaze.
“Fire crews made a fast, attack but were pushed back by fire conditions to a defensive posture,” Blanchard said, causing firefighters to pull back and evacuate before going back inside to fight the fire.
No firefighter or civilians were injured, and the building had no utility services.
Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set, Blanchard said.
The Beaumont Fire Marshal’s Office and Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office are still investigating to see who may have set this fire.
If you have any information about this fire, please call Crime Stoppers at (409) 833-TIPS. You will not be asked for your name.
Eleanor Skelton 