A boiler explosion at a Houston hotel under construction injured six people, says fire officials.
HOUSTON — A boiler explosion inside a hotel under construction in downtown Houston injured six people late Thursday morning, according to Houston fire officials.
What we know
The Houston Fire Department said the incident happened around 11:08 a.m. at a building located at 1319 Texas Avenue near Austin Street, just west of Discovery Green.
The building is a 17-story Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites hotel project that has been under construction since October 2023. The 275-room development was expected to open in October 2025. It is one of the larger hotel projects underway in downtown Houston.
What happened
Fire officials said the explosion occurred in the boiler room near the top of the building, blowing out windows and siding. Witness video and images from Air 11 showed visible damage at the roof level, with debris falling onto the roadway below.
Nearby resident Paul Navejar, who lives in the Catalyst high-rise, described the moment he heard the blast.
“Just after 11 o’clock, I was watching TV with my dog and I heard a loud boom,” he said. “So I went to the side where I could see the building, and at that point, I could see glass raining down and parts of the building like flapping debris, and that’s when I knew there’d been an explosion.”
Navejar said he even spoke to some workers who ran out of the building.
“A couple of the guys I talked to said that they were on the floor and that they, they believe parts of the building, you know, the ceiling collapsed in on them,” he said. “… So I asked, ‘did anyone get hurt?’ and they’re like, ‘I don’t know, we just ran out of there as fast as we could.’”
Injuries reported
Houston Fire Department Communications Director Brant Taylor said six people were taken to Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center with burns, lacerations and cuts. He emphasized that none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
Authorities confirmed the injured are believed to include construction workers who were on site.
Cause and investigation
Taylor said the explosion was initially reported as a boiler issue, but that has not been confirmed. Multiple groups are investigating, including the HFD Arson Division, the Life Safety Bureau inspectors, and City of Houston Public Works permitting inspectors. He noted that federal agencies such as OSHA could also become involved.
Emergency response
According to Taylor, the incident prompted a large-scale response beyond a typical high-rise fire, with hazmat teams also dispatched. Some workers were able to self-evacuate, while firefighters assisted others out of the building.
Traffic and safety impacts
Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen’s office said multiple agencies are assisting at the scene.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid the downtown area near the blast site.
- Use Fannin and La Branch as alternate routes for southbound traffic.
- Avoid Texas Avenue, Caroline, San Jacinto and Austin Streets while crews work in the area.
Taylor warned that surrounding streets may remain closed for hours or even days while the building’s structural integrity is assessed. He also said the closures are likely to affect Houston’s evening rush hour.
What’s next
Houston Fire Department crews remain on site assessing the building and ensuring no further hazards remain.
This is a developing story. KHOU 11 has a team on the ground gathering more information and will continue to provide updates throughout the day.
