Houston firefighters called for extra manpower to battle a blaze engulfing a metal building yesterday afternoon.

A fire erupted in the large metal building about 4 p.m., said Houston Fire Department District Chief Tommy Dowdy. No injuries were reported.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the commander at the scene decided to call for more firefighters because the burning tires and auto supplies inside the steel building made the blaze particularly hot and smoky - and all the more dangerous.

In total, 50 firefighters and 17 units were called to the scene of the metal building blaze.

"Tires burn real hot," Dowdy said. "It's just going to take a while to get this out."

Further complicating matters is the fact that the commercial metal building was the site of a homicide July 10.

On that day, two customers discovered the body of the owner of the shoe and clothing store in the back room of the building in mid-afternoon.

The store jointly occupies the metal building with a tire and auto shop, raising questions among investigators.

Detectives are looking into whether the blaze has any connection to the still-unsolved slaying, said the Houston Police homicide division.