Tag Archives: Texas

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Fire officials credit sprinkler system with minimizing damage in apartment fire

McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a multifamily structure fire Feb. 7, just days after another apartment complex fire. Tenants reported heavy smoke throughout Orion McKinney Apartments, 2508 Collin McKinney Parkway just after midnight. Responding units discovered the fire sprinkler system had activated and controlled and extinguished the fire in one of the apartments outside patios. A sprinkler head is credited for the minimal damage, and once again reinforced the value of fire sprinkler systems.  No injuries reported from the fire.  “This successful save by the sprinkler system shows the probability that the fire will be contained within an area, making it easier for occupants to leave and making the structure safer for our firefighters to work in,” said Fire Marshal Mike Smith. “Plus saving numerous dollars in construction costs.”  Approximately 30 MFD personnel and investigators from the Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the fire.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Sherman, TX – Overnight fire at retirement community suppressed by sprinkler system

One man was transported to the hospital overnight after a small fire broke out at the Renaissance-Sherman retirement community. Sherman Fire-Rescue Chief Danny Jones said the fire appeared to be accidental and was started by a male resident living on the third floor of the facility shortly after midnight. Jones said an unidentified item was left on or near the stove, which was powered on, and caught fire.

“The facility’s sprinkler system worked as it was designed and basically put the fire out before our arrival,” Jones said. “The biggest thing we had to deal with was the smoke.” Jones said that the third floor residents exited their rooms on their own accord and were assisted to the opposite end of the building by staff as precaution. The male resident of the unit where the fire started was transported to a hospital for smoke inhalation and Jones said he believed the patient was released shortly after he received treatment. No other injuries were reported.  The Sherman-Fire-Rescue Chief said the actual amount of fire damage was relatively small, but water from the sprinkler system caused more damage to the apartment where the fire originated and to several units on the floor below.  Jones encouraged residents and homeowners to be mindful of their work while cooking and when in the kitchen.  “Keep combustibles away from any type of heat source and don’t leave food attended on the stove,” Jones said.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Farmers Branch, TX – (No Media Coverage) Fire at senior living center suppressed by sprinkler system

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported ** — Excerpt from FD report.  This afternoon (Dec. 19) at 1418 the FD responded to a structure fire at the Brookdale Senior Living facility (13505 Webb Chapel Road). A small fire was contained to a room by the operation of 1 sprinkler head. This makes 8 sprinkler suppressed fires the FD has responded to in 2016.

The cause of the fire is accidental. A oxygen compressor in the area of origin was in operation at the time and was smoking according to eyewitnesses prior to the fire. Residents were assisted in evacuation when the smoke alarm activated. While evacuating, the sprinkler head fused above the unit. No injuries were reported.

 

Apartment Building, Residential

League City, TX (No Media Coverage) – Fast response from fire service and sprinkler system save occupant from apartment fire

***FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – NO MEDIA COVERAGE*** Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler System Saves a Life of a League City, Texas Resident and His Pet

On December 11, 2016, at approximately 12:13 a.m., the League City Fire Department received a fire alarm call from League City Dispatchers to respond to the Fairway Apartments located at 3045 Marina Bay Drive. This fire alarm turned out to be anything but usual. Upon arrival, the Fire Department noticed a water flow alarm was also activated, thus indicating a possible triggering of the fire sprinkler system. Firefighters immediately responded to the reported apartment to find water flowing from underneath the entry door and an active audible fire alarm sounding. The Firefighters quickly attempted a forced entry into the apartment to begin search and rescue, but were met with resistance at the front door from the occupant.

The occupant apparently woke to the loud pounding noise from the forced entry tools and the displacement of the door frame, which the occupant thought that the firefighters were intruders. The firefighters immediately removed the confused occupant from the apartment and entered using Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. The confused occupant demonstrated signs of hypoxia, difficulty breathing, and was treated by EMS at the scene.

Once inside the apartment, firefighters and investigators noticed the occupant had fallen asleep while cooking. The unattended stove fire was contained by the fire sprinkler system with one fire sprinkler head activation eliminating a possible deadly situation by knocking out the fire. Due to the occupant’s obvious physical condition and hypoxic symptoms, it was apparent that the occupant only had a few more minutes of survival time inside the smoked filled apartment. If not for the notification of the fire alarm system and activation of the fire sprinkler system the occupant would have succumbed to the smoke and fire within the apartment unit. Another great save due to a proper working fire sprinkler system and an aggressive firefighting crew, which both eliminated the hazards before a life was lost.

Apartment Building, Residential

San Antonio, TX – Sprinkler system helps extinguish fire at downtown luxury apartment building

About 55 firefighting units worked to put out a three-alarm fire Saturday at the Agave Apartments complex in downtown San Antonio. The San Antonio Fire Department said the blaze appeared to have started about 5:45 p.m. in a unit on the fifth floor of Building 6. Smoke billowed out of the back of the apartments at Cesar Chavez and South St. Mary’s Street. No residents or firefighters were injured in the blaze.

The Fire Department said the fire came up through the unit and into the attic space, breaking through the roof. There was smoke throughout the building and extensive damage in the unit where the fire started.  Sprinklers helped extinguish the fire in the unit of origin.

Crews had to physically force open the doors of the fourth and fifth floors to make sure no one was still inside the building. The scene is under control, but the Fire Department said it’s still not done for the day.  “We’re going to be out here for quite a while. The fire is under investigation. There’s no reason for us to think it’s anything other than probably something electrical or some type of malfunction. Right now, that’s what we’re looking at,” Chief Charles Hood said.  All of the residents in Building 6 are going to have to spend the night somewhere else. The building has sustained significant water damage.  Residents of Building 6 have rooms waiting for them at the Grand Hyatt on Market Street.  The Fire Department is working with the alarm and sprinkler company to see if everyone else can get back in their buildings.  Residents are able to get their cars from the parking garage.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Tyler, TX – Sprinkler system helped contain fire in high school science room

The Tyler Fire Department brought a fire in a science room at John Tyler High School under control about 6 p.m. Wednesday, District Chief Cordell Parker said.

The fire department received a general fire alarm about 5:30 p.m. The first fire unit on the scene reported smoke, prompting a regular fire alarm and additional units from the fire department responded, including three fire engines and a ladder truck.

The sprinkler system was activated and helped contain the fire in the science room, Parker said. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Belton, TX – Overnight apartment fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

A stove that was left on led to a fire in a second-floor unit at the River Springs at Barge Ranch apartments, 3300 N. Main Street, on Sunday night. A sprinkler system in the unit put the fire out, according to a press release from Paul Romer, public information officer for the city of Belton.  Nobody was injured in the fire, but it displaced two adults – one in the unit where the fire occurred and another person from the unit directly below.  The Belton Fire Department responded to a call about the fire at about 11:15 p.m. on Sunday by sending two engine trucks and two ambulances. The Temple Fire Department provided mutual aid with an engine and a ladder truck.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Lufkin, TX – Fire at Outback Steakhouse caused by lightning strike controlled with help from sprinkler system

Three Lufkin Fire stations responded to an electrical fire believed to be caused by lighting on the front porch of Outbeak steakhouse.  No injuries were reported, but damage to paneling on the outside roof occurred according to Battalion Chief Eric Parrish.  “We believe the lights outside of the restaurant caught on fire signaling the sprinkler systems to activate,” Parrish said. “This in combination to response from our units are what extinguished the fire.”  No one was harmed, and those in the restaurant at the time the fire began all exited the premises safely. Parrish said he believes Outback will be closed for the next couple of days until damage is fixed, and the exact cause of the fire is determined.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Austin, TX – Fire at Crowne Plaza Hotel extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

The Austin Fire Department responded Friday night to a hotel just off of I-35 in North Austin after a fire inside a third floor room. Guests were evacuated from the Crowne Plaza Hotel around 9:00 p.m., but were allowed back in a short time later. No injuries were reported.  The Austin Fire Depart. says a sprinkler system extinguished the fire believed to be related to an electrical problem in an HVAC system. One room was damaged with smoke, while other parts of the hotel have water damage. In all, there’s about $250,000 worth of damage.  Guests who cannot return to their room have been relocated by the hotel.