Boy, 3, dies in Magnolia mobile home fire

  MAGNOLIA, TX (KTRK) -- A fire in Montgomery County killed a three-year-old boy Saturday morning.

It happened just after1am at a 30-foot travel trailer mobile home in the 19000 block of Todd Road near F.M. 1488, west of Magnolia.

The Montgomery County Fire Marshal's Office says three-year-old Dakota Myers and his 10-year-old cousin were asleep. Dakota's mother tells us she was next door when the home burst into flames.

As soon Dakota's mother and her neighbors smelled the smoke and saw the flames, they tried to save the children, but the flames were too intense.

Neighbors reportedly ran into the home. Some of them even burned themselves while trying to save the boys.

"Several attempts were made, not only by firefighters, but by family members and friends to get in the travel trailer, but not successful," said Scott Burlin, Assistant Fire Marshal in Montgomery County. "Too much fire and flame."

The 10-year-old managed to get out of the home, but the three-year-old did not.

Firefighters eventually got the blaze under control and gained entry, but Dakota was already dead. His body was found in a back room.

The 10-year-old and another adult at the scene were treated for smoke inhalation.

There is no word yet on what started the fire, but investigators say the home was not equipped with any working smoke detectors. Working smoke detectors are especially important in homes with small children or elderly residents, officials say. Children under four and the elderly are four times more likely to die in a home fire than the average person, according to the fire marshal's office.

The boy's grandmother, Sheila Landreneau, barely had words Saturday to describe the family's loss.

"Koty was special. Very special," she said. "He's going to be missed so much. I just can't believe something like this happened to him, because it's not right."

Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for more information as it becomes available.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Wrecker driver wrestles gator on Magnolia road

  MAGNOLIA, TX (KTRK) -- A tow truck driver turned into a gator wrestler overnight after he spotted a gator crossing the road.

Richard Wible says he saw a 4-foot long gator in the middle of the road in Magnolia. He called wildlife officers who told him it would be a while before they could get there to capture the gator.

So he decided to take care of it himself, using a rope and electrical tape to catch the gator. But the animal put up quite a fight.

"I went to pick him and he decided he was going to fight and little bit and he slapped me across my back," Wible said. "I'm just glad we got him out of harm's way and he's free to go now."

Police arrived and put the alligator in the back of one of their patrol cars and they released it back into the wild in a large body of water, away from people.

After being set free, the gator stared them all down from the water and eventually swam off.

Since the gator was found on Buddy Riley, they decided to name him "Buddy."

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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High water reported in Magnolia area

One Life to Live will air in its entirety at 1:05am Tuesday

  MAGNOLIA, TX (KTRK) -- After this morning's storms, Montgomery County sheriff's deputies are keeping an eye on particular high water spot.

Dispatchers say one section of FM 1774 in the Magnolia area has been shut down due to high water. The road closure affects FM 1774 immediately around sanders cemetery. Tx-DOT has put up barricades as water from mink creek approaches the bridge near the cemetery.

Other than that one trouble spot, there have been no other reports of major damage in Montgomery County.

We're expecting more rain today.

If you caught photos or video of the severe weather, you can upload them at iWitness.abc13.com or email them to news@abc13.com.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Firefighters duck flying ammo as Magnolia house burns

  MAGNOLIA, TX -- A house fire in Southeast Texas ignited thousands of ammunition rounds, keeping firefighters away and allowing the old house to burn to the ground.

Magnolia County Assistant Fire Marshal Scott Burlin says the noon fire Thursday destroyed the rural house about 40 miles northwest of Houston near Magnolia. Burlin estimated the oldest part of the house was about 100 years old.

Bill Adams told The Courier of Conroe the house had been in his family since 1927 and contained hundreds of antiques reduced to ashes with the rest of the house. Among the antiques were about 40 guns, for which Burlin estimated there was about 100,000 rounds of ammunition in the house.

Adams also said one of his three dogs died in the fire.

No other injuries were reported.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Magnolia area in desperate need of food

  MAGNOLIA, TX (KTRK) -- The wildfires in Montgomery County earlier this year have created an incredible need for food.

Parts of the Magnolia area suffered devastating destruction, and now many families are still coping without essentials. The Society of Samaritans Food Pantry has seen the need increase by 150 families. It is trying desperately to meet the demand because many families would not have basic foods they need.

The need is not just in Magnolia, but throughout Montgomery County. They are asking for donations to help.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Firefighters have blaze in Magnolia under control

  MAGNOLIA, TX (KTRK) -- Firefighters on late Tuesday were still putting out spot fires after a blaze erupted hours earlier and threatened an entire Montgomery County neighborhood.

At the height of the blaze, 28 pieces of equipment, including dozers and a helicopter, were used to battle the flames that erupted just after 1pm along FM 1774. Texas Forest Service, the U.S. Forest Service, Tomball Fire Department, Rosehill and Cy-Fair fire departments all helped battle the blaze because it was in a heavily wooded area and high winds were spreading it quickly. At one point, the fire threatened the Magnolia Ridge Subdivision near FM 1488 and one family was evacuated. Many homes in that neighborhood are new or still being built. The Forest Service quickly dispatched a helicopter capable of making water drops and four bulldozers to the scene. In addition Cy-fair Fire Department brought their bulldozer. Authorities believe the fire may have started either by a cigarette butt or from sparks off the wheels of a passing train. It was difficult to determine as the fire was on both sides of the track and did run up against FM 1774. At 9pm, fire crews were still mopping up and putting out spot fires. There were just a few trucks remaining compared to the height f the fire when 28 pieces of fire equipment were on the scene. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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