HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A man has been arrested, accused of starting a fire at a Spring area apartment complex that left one person dead and several others injured Monday morning, according to officials.
The fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. at an apartment complex in the 4600 block of Cypresswood Drive, near 4607 Cypresswood Drive.
The Klein Fire Department said one person was confirmed dead and multiple others were injured. Several people were transported to area hospitals, while others were treated at the scene.
Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to help battle the fire.
Initial reports indicated there may have been children trapped inside the building. One witness told authorities the children appeared to have escaped. Authorities have not confirmed those reports.
Witnesses also reported seeing CPR being performed on one fire victim. Officials have not released additional information about that person. One woman was seen being transported by EMS on a stretcher and appeared to be in stable condition.
Constables, Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and firefighters from Spring Fire Department also responded to the scene.
On Monday, July 20, 2026, at approximately 1:30 a.m., @HCSOTexas Deputies and multiple area fire departments/first responders responded to a structure fire at the Cypresswood Apartments, located at 4607 Cypresswood. Upon arrival, responders found a building fully engulfed in… pic.twitter.com/ccBcvbuoYg
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) July 20, 2026
Monday afternoon, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said Matthew Atwater had been arrested and charged with felony murder with arson as the underlying offense in connection to the fire.
The sheriff’s office identified Andrew Atwater, 40, as the person who died in the fire. His mother suffered serious injuries. A 3-year-old toddler in an adjacent apartment also sustained extensive burn injuries. Multiple additional residents were treated on scene for minor injuries.
Detectives learned that Matthew Atwater had been involved in an argument with family members earlier in the evening and allegedly set the fire out of anger.
Additional charges are possible.