Blaze guts huge Houston warehouse; no injuries

[May 22, 2009]  HOUSTON (AP) -- A huge fire lit up the night sky in Houston as it destroyed a massive furniture warehouse. No injuries were reported but the damage was estimated at millions of dollars.

The Thursday night fire at the Gallery Furniture warehouse delayed traffic on nearby Interstate 45.

Owner Jim McIngvale -- also known as "Mattress Mac" -- said the fire began in a corner of the warehouse, but its cause is not yet known.

Houston Fire District Chief Tommy Dowdy says they have not confirmed a report from an employee that the fire started around a generator.

More than 100 people were in an adjacent showroom when the fire broke out but they escaped safely. McIngvale vows to rebuild the business.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.