Tag Archives: Texas

Apartment Building, Residential

Farmers Branch, TX (No Media Coverage) – Cooking fire at multifamily home doused by single sprinkler head

***NO MEDIA – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED***On November 16, 2017, Farmers Branch Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at a multifamily residential apartment building located at 11700 Luna Rd. (Bldg 4) in Farmers Branch. Forty apartment units are within Building 4. The Farmers Branch Fire Department discovered a kitchen fire had been extinguished prior to their arrival by a single 25 gallon per minute residential sprinkler head.

Occupant reported that she was cooking breakfast in a skillet and stepped away from the kitchen for a few minutes. Upon returning to the kitchen, she observed the frying pan on fire and extending upward to the microwave. Sprinkler head activated. Her husband was in the shower at the time of the fire. Fire damage was estimated at $1,050. Multiple lives were saved by a single sprinkler head activation.

 

Apartment Building, College/University (on campus), Residence Hall/Dormitory, Residential

San Antonio, TX – Fire in university apartment building under construction put out by sprinkler system

A sprinkler system put out a small fire in an apartment building under construction at the Our Lady of the Lake University campus Sunday morning. The San Antonio Fire Department said the fire started around 11:30 a.m., and firefighters arrived to a smoke-filled room. An SAFD spokesperson said, while the building was under construction, the sprinkler system was functioning. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and SAFD said it’s not clear yet how much damage was caused.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Houston, TX – (no media coverage) Hotel kitchen fire contained by single sprinkler

***Fire Department Reported – No Media Coverage *** The Harris County Fire Marshal’s office reported a sprinkler save at the TownPlace® Suites by Marriott at 11040 Louetta Road in Houston. The fire was caused from unattended cooking, causing a grease fire. The occupant fell asleep while cooking chicken strips. A single sprinkler activated containing the fire to the stove area.

Apartment Building, Residential

Lubbock, TX – Early morning apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system

Lubbock Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating two separate apartment fires that occurred on Thursday. The first occurred at about 5 a.m. at The Ranch Apartments, 1002 Frankford Ave, according to a Lubbock Fire Rescue social media post. The fire was reportedly extinguished with minimal fire damage to the apartment prior to the crew’s arrival. According to the post, the smoke detectors awoke the resident and the sprinkler system assisted in extinguishing the fire. LFR FMO were called to investigate, and the fire has been ruled as undetermined.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Temple, TX – Sprinkler system keeps fire at nursing home from spreading

A sprinkler system kept the flames of a fire that broke out in a bedroom of a local nursing home from spreading, Temple Fire & Rescue spokesman Thomas Pechal said Friday.  Eleven units and 25 firefighters were dispatched just before 5 p.m. Thursday to the Senior Care Center of Marlandwood East at 1511 Marlandwood Rd.

Firefighters found light smoke in a hallway and then discovered heavy black smoke filling the room in which the fire started, Pechal said.  “A small fire was visible on the bed and a sprinkler head flowing water was limiting flame spread,” he said in a press release Friday.

“The fire was quickly extinguished. Firefighters conducted a search of nearby rooms for possible victims and found that residents and staff had safely evacuated,” he said.

Investigators traced the cause of the fire to an electrical outlet with a damaged cover plate.  An electrical short sparked the fire after a metal bed frame came into contact with the damaged cover plate, he said.  No one was hurt.  Damage was estimated at $7,000.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Farmers Branch, TX (No media coverage) – Fire originating in commercial smoker quickly doused by sprinkler system

***No media coverage – Fire Department reported***  On October 7, 2017, Farmers Branch and Carrollton Fire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire at a commercial building located at 13801 Diplomat in Farmers Branch. The Carrollton Fire Department made entry and discovered a kitchen fire had been extinguished prior to their arrival by a single 25 gallon per minute sprinkler head.

An employee on the scene reported that chicken in a commercial smoker caught fire, and when she opened the smoker door a “fireball” rolled out and set off the sprinkler head. Fire damage was prevented by the quick activation of the fire sprinkler. The water damage was limited to a small area of the kitchen.

Apartment Building, Residential

Grapevine, TX – (No media coverage) Apartment fire caused by unattended cooking doused by sprinkler system

***No media coverage – Fire Department reported*** On October 1st, 2017 at 03:32 the Grapevine Fire Department was dispatched to the Montelena Apartments at 501 Turner street #622 for an alarm activation. The first on-scene fire crews arrived to find audible fire alarms activating with nothing showing. Apartment #622 on the second level was investigated and fire crews found a single side wall sprinkler head had activated and extinguished a fire on the stove. The cause of the fire was from unattended cooking. There was fire damage to kitchen cabinets around the stove and smoke damage to the ceiling above the stove. The single sprinkler head contained, extinguished the fire; saving lives and property on the same floor and below. Even though the fire alarms had sounded, residences in the affected fire apartment were still in their bedroom. Fire damages were estimated around at $4000 saving and protecting a property valued $33,450,000.

The numbers are accurate for repairs and value of building. The contents of the apartment was estimated on renters insurance of $10,000

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Tyler, TX – Sprinkler system helps contain electrical fire at Golden Corral; No injuries reported

The smell of smoke was in the air Wednesday, and a portion of the west side of Tyler’s Golden Corral building near the roof showed where a fire had burned the night before. An exterior door and some windows were also boarded up.

The Tyler Fire Department received the call shortly before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday that heavy smoke and flames were coming from the restaurant at 5602 S. Broadway Ave. Firefighters reported smoke and flames when they got to the scene, but got the fire under control.

A total of four engine companies, two ladder companies, an investigator and a District Chief were dispatched to Golden Corral, according to the Tyler Fire Department news release.

Units were cleared from the incident at 1:05 a.m.

Investigators determined the fire started near the southwest corner of the building in the exterior eave. Fire officials said the only ignition source in that area is lights. Fire investigators noted that the breaker controlling the lights had been tripped, and that an electrician had recently worked on the lights.

Most of the fire damage was to the outside of the building, with smoke and light fire damage to the interior.

The inside of restaurant sustained water damage from the building’s fire sprinkler system as well as from the firefighters putting out the blaze.

No injuries were reported.

The restaurant will be closed for at least three or four days for repairs and cleaning.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system prevents major damage to animal shelter; All animals safe

McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident Sept. 28 at The Collin County Animal Shelter, 4750 Community Ave, just after 5:00 p.m. First responders upon arrival noted the fire alarm was sounding and strobes activated.

The investigation revealed the fire sprinkler system had activated and extinguished the fire within the shelter. A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage and reinforced the value of fire sprinkler systems. Shelter staff reported no injuries to the 124 sheltered animals.

Approximately 26 MFD personnel and investigators from the Fire Marshal’s office responded to the fire. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“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 www.mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Houston, TX – Fire on 26th floor of high-rise apartment building controlled by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A two-alarm high-rise apartment fire blocked Weslayan and West Alabama for nearly two hours Saturday evening. The fire was the result of a kitchen fire on the 26th floor of the 40-story building.  The problem was a faulty stove with what was described as a leaking gas valve, Houston Fire Department said. A sprinkler system in the apartment was activated and firefighters did the rest, including capping the leaking valve. Damage was reported to that unit, smoke damage next door, as well as that from water used to put out the fire.

According to the deputy fire chief on scene, apartments one floor above and beneath the unit where the fire was reported were evacuated. The rest of the building was not affected and was not alerted, but some residents were called by friends who saw the firetrucks surrounding the building. One woman walked down 31 flight of stairs with her dog and children in tow.  “A friend texted me and suggested I leave,” she said.

Another couple, with their 2-year-old son were returning from dinner when they saw the flashing lights. “We’re here because our house in Brays Heights flooded, and now this,” said Buck Baker. “It’s too much drama.” No injuries were reported and no high rise rescues were required.