Cypresswood Drive Apartment Fire Displaces 25 Residents in Spring — One Dead, Multiple Injured in Early-Morning Arson

A pre-dawn apartment fire in the 4600 block of Cypresswood Drive near Kuykendahl in the Spring/Klein area has left one person dead, multiple residents injured, and roughly 25 residents displaced after an eight-unit building was heavily damaged in a multi-alarm blaze early Monday morning.

The fire was reported around 1:30 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, at an apartment complex off Cypresswood Drive between I-45 and Kuykendahl Road in unincorporated northwest Harris County. 

Spring Fire Department and Klein Fire Department arrived to find heavy fire showing through the roof of one building within the complex.

Aerial ladder trucks were deployed to attack the fire from above as ground crews conducted searches for trapped occupants. Firefighters brought the blaze under control around 6 a.m. after roughly four and a half hours of suppression work.

Multiple residents were transported to area hospitals. Sources vary on the exact count — the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office reports 13 injured total, with six hospitalized and three victims in critical condition. 

One adult man died in the fire after being found inside the building; firefighters performed CPR at the scene. Several firefighters were also treated at the scene for heat exhaustion, dehydration, and smoke inhalation; all are expected to recover.

The building — an eight-unit structure within the larger complex — was heavily damaged, with a partial roof collapse reported. Approximately 25 residents were displaced by the fire.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office and Constable units assisted with evacuations, going door-to-door in adjacent buildings to ensure residents had left safely.

Investigators with the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office initially worked alongside Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies to determine the cause. On Wednesday, July 22, authorities charged Matthew Atwater, a resident of the unit, with felony murder and arson, accusing him of intentionally setting the fire after a domestic argument with family members.

How readers can act now:

• Donate to the American Red Cross Texas to help displaced families with temporary lodging, emergency financial assistance, and basic household items: call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcross.org.
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• Support Klein Fire Department and Spring Fire Department through their respective benevolent funds, which often help cover firefighter medical costs from injury incidents.
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• Drop off supplies: Local donation drives typically accept unopened toiletries, phone chargers, gift cards, and bottled water. Watch the Spring-area community Facebook groups and Nextdoor for specific drop-off locations.
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• Housing referrals: If you have a vacant rental unit or know of available housing, contact the American Red Cross — they maintain a registry of housing offers for displaced families.
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• Stay updated: The Harris County Sheriff's Office and Harris County Fire Marshal's Office will release additional details as the investigation continues. Avoid the scene; Cypresswood Drive near Kuykendahl remains closed to through traffic.