Tag Archives: Texas

Government/Military, Public Library

Dallas, TX – Sprinkler system protects downtown public library from overnight fire

An overnight fire damaged the main public library building in downtown Dallas.

Firefighters were called to the Erik Jonsson Central Library at 12:15 Sunday morning on a report of smoke inside the building.

Dallas Fire Rescue called in backup crews because of the size of the building.

The source of the smoke was a light fixture, which experienced an electrical short in a lower storage area of the library, according to Dallas Fire Rescue.

The fire was extinguished immediately after the sprinkler system activated, which limited the damage to the light fixture and the ceiling nearby, Dallas Fire Rescue said.

No one was injured.

Other Business

McKinney, TX – Fire at animal care center suppressed by sprinkler system; No animals reported injured

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident at 2:45 p.m. Dec. 25 at the SPCA of Texas, Russell H Perry Animal Care Center, 8411 Stacy Rd. Upon arrival, first responders noted the fire alarm system had activated and reported heavy smoke conditions in a rear laundry room.  Further investigation noted a fire in the dryer had activated the fire sprinkler system and suppressed the fire within the dryer itself until fully extinguished by responding fire personnel.  A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage, saving an estimated $1.1 million in property loss and reinforcing the value of fire sprinkler systems in commercial businesses.  Twenty-nine MFD personnel and investigators from the fire marshal’s office responded to the fire. No injuries were reported to any of the animals. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.

“Another sprinkler save successfully demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in a commercial occupancy. Undoubtedly, this single sprinkler activation prevented a major loss to the SPCA of Texas,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew Barr.

For additional information on fire protection systems, code requirements or other fire prevention topics, visit mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Houston, TX – Sprinkler system contains workplace fire to one room; No injuries reported

On Dec. 18 at approximately 8:00 p.m. Cy-Fair Fire Department requested HCFMO investigators assist with a fire in the 11900 block of FM 529, Houston, TX. Investigators determined the fire started due to an electrical failure of a universal battery charger that was left on a desk.

“The building’s fire sprinkler system activated and contained the fire to one room,” said Public Information Officer Rachel Moreno. “Only one sprinkler head activated, minimizing fire damage and saving the building.”

Employees were in the building at the time of the fire. All fire protection systems operated as designed and limited damage. Investigators estimate the fire caused approximately $20,000 in damage.

The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office Investigations Division is responsible for fire, arson, and explosion investigations in unincorporated Harris County.

Other - School / University, School / University

San Antonio, TX – Fire at school bus garage put out with help from sprinkler system

An early morning fire damaged a Northeast ISD bus barn on Monday.  The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. and at one point, 25 fire units were called out to the location at the NEISD North Transportation Terminal.  Fire crews say the fire started in a desk drawer within a building at the terminal. The fire was put out quickly with the help of the building’s sprinkler system. No one was injured in the fire.  Fire officials say the fire did about $5,000 worth of damage.  None of the buses were damaged in the fire and routes were expected to proceed as normal Monday morning.

Apartment Building, Residential

Conroe, TX – (Fire Dept Reported) Apartment fire held in check by automatic sprinkler system

The City of Conroe Fire Department was notified of an apartment fire at 2213 N Frazier St. (Oak Creek Apartments) at approximately 12:08 p.m. on December 15, 2017. Conroe Firefighters arrived at approximately 12:16 p.m. and discovered a fire in the living room of one apartment unit which had activated two fire sprinkler heads. The sprinkler heads held the fire in the smaller stages until firefighters were able to complete extinguishment.

The occupant of the apartment was transported to Conroe Regional ER with smoke inhalation. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or other occupants of the building. Fire and water damage was confined to the apartment of origin. The fire is believed to have originated in a living room couch. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For the second time in three days within the City of Conroe, the importance of properly installed and maintained automatic fire sprinkler systems in residential occupancies has been demonstrated. It is likely that the automatic fire sprinkler system saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and property loss to the building’s owners and occupants. Further, no adjacent occupants were displaced and possible injuries and deaths to citizens and firefighters were prevented.

Automatic fire sprinkler systems have over 100 years of proven performance protecting life and property. This incident represents the third time in 2017 that an apartment fire has been extinguished in the area of origin with the assistance of an automatic fire sprinkler system.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system prevents major damage to apartment complex due to unattended cooking

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident at 11:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Retreat at Stonebridge Ranch, 1920 Grassmere Lane, for an appliance fire and water flow alarm.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered there was a grease fire and the fire sprinkler system had activated, extinguishing the fire in the apartment kitchen. A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage, saving an estimated $1.5 million in property loss and reinforcing the value of fire sprinkler systems in residential structures.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking.

“Another sprinkler save successfully demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in a residential apartment building. Undoubtedly, this single sprinkler activation prevented a major loss,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew Barr. “Further, this reinforces the recommendation to not leave the kitchen area while cooking at any time.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), kitchen fires account for 49 percent of all home fires and fire injuries with unattended cooking being a factor in 33 percent of all kitchen fires.

For additional information on fire protection systems, code requirements or other fire prevention topics, visit www.mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Austin, TX – Sprinkler system controls car fire in W Hotel parking garage

A car fire at a downtown parking garage has prompted the closure of a portion of 3rd Street Sunday afternoon.

Austin Fire Department officials said crews were called to the W Hotel parking garage at 200 Lavaca St. at around 2:45 p.m. Firefighters made quick work of the blaze as it was confined to a single vehicle and a sprinkler system helped dampen the flames before emergency workers’ arrival.

But the fire set off a series of related events led by the road closure at 3rd Street between Guadalupe and Lavaca streets. A nearby Starbucks at 3rd and Lavaca streets reportedly was evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Restaurant

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system keeps restaurant dumpster fire from spreading

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident at 8 p.m. Thursday at Spring Creek Barbeque, 1993 U.S. 75, where first responders saw smoke and heard the fire alarm upon arrival.

An investigation revealed the fire sprinkler system had activated and suppressed a fire within the dumpster. A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage and reinforced the value of fire sprinkler systems in commercial structures.

Twenty five MFD personnel and investigators from the fire marshal’s office responded to the fire. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was determined to disposal of ashes into the dumpster.

“This successful sprinkler save continues to demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in a commercial environment. Had a fire sprinkler system not been present, the outcome may have been very different,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew Barr.

For additional information on fire protection systems, code requirements or other fire prevention topics, visit mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.

Department Store, Retail

Cedar Park, TX – Arson fire at Walmart suppressed by automatic sprinkler system

“Lots of black smoke just radiating from that area,” described Jackie Sinclair, who was inside Walmart early Wednesday morning as flames shot up to the ceiling. The fire happened at the store on 201 Walton Way in Cedar Park around 1:44 a.m. Sinclair posted video to Facebook of the flames, which appear to be in an aisle behind the watches and jewelry section. Cedar Park Fire Department says two separate fires were set inside, one near the apparel and another in the vacuum aisle. Police are investigating it as arson.

“How did this happen?” Sinclair says on the video. “Time to go — that’s a little too big for my taste.” Sinclair said she had just gotten off work and was stopping by Walmart to get some groceries and avoid the crowds. “That’s crazy, like I’ve never seen nothing like that before, so I didn’t really understand what was going on.”

Police do have a suspect who has been interviewed, but not arrested. Investigators say it is not a Walmart employee. “It is unusual, of course, I don’t know a lot of details of the motive right now,” explains Randle Blesing, fire marshal for the Cedar Park Fire Department. Blesing says three sprinkler heads went off, putting out most of the flames. Walmart employees evacuated the store. “Thirty seconds in, I was like in, I shot the video and I was out, I did not want to stay in there,” recalls Sinclair.

No one was hurt. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The store will remain closed until further notice so staff can assess the damage. Walmart says employees at the Cedar Park store are being reassigned to nearby stores so they can still work and won’t lose any hours.

People have set fires in other Walmart stores before. A quick Google search turns up more than a dozen in the past few years. The damage can be expensive. Two years ago, fires in a West Virginia Walmart caused more than $2 million in losses. Police arrested and charged two 12-year-old boys for starting those fires.

Last year, a man lit a fireworks display on fire inside a Walmart in Phoenix. No one was hurt, but the store sustained several million dollars worth of water and fire damage. Police arrested a suspect a few months later and charged him with arson.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Granbury, TX – Laundry fire at senior living facility doused by sprinkler system

Automatic fire alarms began going off at around 9:30 p.m. last Sunday at the Lakestone Senior Living facility on Highway 377 in Granbury, according to city of Granbury Public Information Officer Bethany Warner.  The fire started in a dryer in the main laundry, Warner said. The building’s sprinkler system limited the fire to the dryer and there was minimal damage to the laundry room, she said. Residents were let back into the building about 15 to 20 minutes after evacuations began, she said.