Update: 4 vehicles destroyed, others damaged in University of Houston fire

Houston Fire Department firefighters extinguished a fire on the third floor of the University of Houston East Parking Garage Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Godofredo A. Vasquez / Houston Chronicle ) Houston Fire Department firefighters extinguished a fire on the third floor of the University of Houston East Parking Garage Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in Houston. ( Godofredo A. Vasquez / Houston Chronicle ) Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle Photo: Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Update: 4 vehicles destroyed, others damaged in University of Houston fire 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

At least 11 vehicles were damaged by a fire Thursday afternoon in a parking garage at the University of Houston, university officials said.

Houston firefighters were dispatched to the university around 1 p.m. after two cars were reported on fire in the school's East Garage near University Drive and Texas Spur 5. The fire damaged at least another nine vehicles in the garage, which was evacuated.

The blaze destroyed four vehicles and damaged seven more, according to UH spokesman Mike Rosen.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital as a precaution but is expected to be OK, Houston Fire Department spokeswoman Sheldra Brigham said.

While firefighters tapped out the blaze around 1:45 p.m., tensions heated outside the garage as students and faculty were blocked from getting their undamaged vehicles out. No one was allowed in or out of the garage for hours, Rosen said, as HFD arson investigators tried to determine what sparked the blaze.

UH student Steve Hoang was among those waiting to enter the garage. Hoang, who lives in Pasadena, worried his car was caught in the fire but said he had not received information from firefighters or the university about an hour after the fire was put out.

"There's no way in hell this is happening," Hoang said. "I still need my car to go to work and everything. The fact that this whole parking garage is inaccessible to anyone is a big deal. I'm getting an Uber. I'm not staying here."

The garage holds 1,500 vehicles, university officials said, although it is not certain how many vehicles were in the garage when the fire started. The garage is typically full around 1:45 p.m. on Thursdays, officials said.

Once HFD completed its investigation into the fire, students and faculty who parked in the garage were asked to remove their vehicles so the university can bring in structural engineers to determine its integrity. Once that test is complete, the garage will be cleaned and reopened, Rosen said - hopefully by Monday.

In the meantime, students and faculty who normally park in the garage may park in any surface lot on UH property, Rosen said.

With fewer students on campus Fridays and weekends, officials believe there will be ample parking to accommodate those who normally park in the garage.

Robert Downen contributed to this report.

Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan.