The City of Houston annexed an area near Highway 59 and West Mount Houston Road several years ago. Residents in the area now pay city property taxes, but they don’t receive even that most basic of municipal services: fire protection.

It was terrifying enough in March when a home in the 6600 block of Winfield went up in flames.

“Oh yes, (the flames) were up there and scary too,” said Annie Shephard, who lives five doors down from the home that burned.

But the fear of that night is compounded by the fact that the nearest fire hydrant to the neighborhood is a quarter of a mile away.

“That’s why I’ve been making all these calls trying to get some answers as to why there’s not a fire hydrant in this area,” said Shephard.

And what is the city doing about it?

“We are actually putting together a study to give us an accurate idea of what we need to do to resolve some of those concerns,” said Houston Public Works spokesman Alvin Wright. 

Oh, that’s comforting. But hey, at least the city got its revenue, and that’s what really matters.