Houston Fire Department inspectors call the blaze huge: A fire that took several hours to put out on Houston southwest side in the early morning hours of Saturday.
The store along the 69-Southwest Freeway at Fountain View caught fire, but those investigators believe it may have jumped from a tire storage area behind the rug business.
Flammable tires fueled the blaze after it started about midnight, causing firefighters to call for a second alarm, which brings with it more firefighters and fire-fighting equipment.
Officials said the fire was out about 5 am, nearly five hours after it was called in to dispatchers.
No injuries were reported, but firefighters remained at the two businesses into Saturday evening, watching for new embers burning that could re-ignite the blaze, and ensuring safety as a hazardous materials team tested water running off the businesses to see if they contain dangerous chemicals from the burning tires.