Tag Archives: Texas

Apartment Building, Residential

Pearland, TX – Patio fire at apartment building extinguished by sprinkler installed in balcony

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported** –
The Pearland Fire Department responded to a report of a cooking fire located on the patio of an apartment unit in the 2500 block of Business Center Drive on Wednesday, April 6. Upon arriving, fire department officials discovered that the fire had been extinguished by a fire sprinkler system installed on the patio of the unit where the fire began.

Because the fire sprinkler system installed on the balcony worked as it was designed, no property damage or loss of life occurred during this incident. Fire sprinklers are required in all new multi-family dwellings in Pearland, as well as specific commercial structures because of requirements and guidelines set forth by the locally adopted Code of Ordinances approved by Pearland City Council. Single-family homes are not required to install sprinkler systems, but for less than the cost of many cosmetic upgrades, these life and property saving systems can be installed.

The Pearland Fire Department encourages the installation of fire sprinklers in all structures, especially in homes where people are sleeping. For additional information, visit pearlandtx.gov/firesprinklers or contact the Pearland Fire Marshal’s Office at 281.997.4650.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

San Antonio, TX – Fire at Riverwalk restaurant contained by sprinkler system; No other business affected

An overnight fire inside Tony Roma’s restaurant at the Shops at Rivercenter mall has left the business with heavy damage. The restaurant was not open when the fire broke out shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, and no one battling the fire suffered any injuries.

Fire officials said the fire started in a pile of towels on top of a cabinet. The fire spread to a storage area where wine and plastic containers were kept. Firefighters who responded to the fire said the sprinkler system had gone off, dumping water on the flames but also causing water damage inside the business. There was about 2-3 inches of water on the floor of the restaurant.

Firefighters said the restaurant also sustained some smoke damage. A hazardous materials team and an arson team were called to the scene to investigate, but officials said it appears the cause of the fire was accidental. No other businesses at the mall were affected.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

San Antonio, TX – Storage room fire at Comfort Inn & Suites put out with help from sprinkler system

A storage fire at Northwest Side hotel displaced dozens of guests Thursday night, officials said Friday. The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. at the Comfort Inn & Suites found in the 6000 block of Interstate 10 West near Vance Jackson Road.

Firefighters said the fire started in a storage room on the top floor of the building. The sprinkler system helped put out the fire. Fire officials said the fire affected about 36 hotel rooms out of a total of 85 in the building.  Arson is investigating the cause of the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

League City, TX – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Single sprinkler helps firefighters extinguish apartment fire

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED **

On Tuesday, February 09, 2016, at 8:35 p.m., the Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at the Broadstone Walker Commons Apartments located at 1751 West Walker Street.

Before arriving on the location the Fire Department was notified of fire leaping out a third story balcony with heavy fire and smoke visible. Once on location, firefighters deployed an “Apartment Lay” up three flights of stairs and connected a 1 ¾ inch attack line to suppress the fire. During this time, the fire sprinkler system with one sidewall sprinkler head activated, which controlled and suppressed the majority of the fire.

The quick action from the firefighters completely stopped the advancement of the fire from entering into the attic and open spaces. A fast responding fire sprinkler system and aggressive team of firefighters absolutely save the complex from extensive fire damage and thousands of dollars of direct fire loss, not to mention the lives perhaps saved. The fire is currently under investigation by the League City Fire Marshal’s Office.

Apartment Building, Residential

Pearland, TX – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Sprinkler system halts grease fire at apartment building

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED ** The Pearland Fire Department responded to a report of a grease fire in a unit of a 3-story apartment complex located in the 2200 block of Business Center Dr. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Upon arriving, fire department officials discovered that the fire had been extinguished by a fire sprinkler system installed in the apartment unit where the fire began, extinguishing a fire in the kitchen of the unit.

Because the fire sprinkler system installed in the unit worked as it was designed, no property damage or loss of life occurred during this incident.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Nacogdoches, TX – Fire in student center at Stephen F. Austin University put out by single sprinkler

A fire that damaged the food court area of the Stephen F. Austin State University Student Center Tuesday evening is under investigation. A small fire activated a single fire sprinkler in a kitchen area on the first floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center around 9:00 p.m., according to a news release.

The building’s fire suppression system was activated and the building was evacuated. No injuries were reported, the release stated. The SFA University Police Department and Nacogdoches Fire Department responded.

“There was only minor damage from the fire, and the smoke was cleared by the smoke evacuation system,” said Dr. Steve Westbrook, vice president for university affairs. The University says some food services on the first floor atrium of the building will be temporarily closed until further cleaning and inspection.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Louetta, TX – Early morning fire at Comfort Suites motel limited by sprinkler system

The fire broke out about 3:30 a.m. at the Comfort Suites motel on Highway 249 near Louetta, said Ricky Bange of the Klein Fire Department. Bange said when firefighters arrived guests were evacuated and the building was searched to make sure everyone got out safely. He said firefighters found the blaze had erupted in a third-floor room. The motel’s sprinkler system had doused the flames. But smoke lingered in the building. The fire did not spread to any other parts of the motel.

The guest who was staying in the room were the fire began was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. The person’s condition was not released. Bange said investigators determined the fire started in the room’s air-conditioning unit.

It was a hectic morning for guests. One hotel patron, Carl Wiedenfeld, said he was asleep in his third-floor room when he woke to the blaring fire alarm. Then his friend who was also staying at the motel called him on the telephone and told him about the fire.

Wiedenfeld, of Port Arthur, said he opened his door to leave his room but smoke filled the hallway. He closed the door, soaked a towel in water and pressed to his face like a gas mask. Then he dashed into the smokey hallway, hurried to the fire escape and safely got outside. In town on business, he appeared unfazed and philosophical about the ordeal as he stood outside the building.

“It’s not your normal hotel stay,” Wiedenfeld said.

Primary / Secondary School

Dallas, TX – Sprinkler system activates to help control early morning fire at school

Some classes at Parish Episcopal School’s Hillcrest campus are canceled Tuesday and Wednesday due to damage suffered while crews put out a fire at the school Sunday morning. Minor fire damage was done by the flames, which broke out in the attic of Building E — home to the Lower School’s main office, library and several classrooms — around 5:30 a.m., but water from firefighters and the building’s sprinkler system did “extensive” damage.

The fire was “quickly extinguished,” according to a Parish Episcopal School spokesperson. David Monaco, the Head of School at Parish Episcopal, wrote on Twitter that anything lost in the fire was “replaceable.”

Students in Pre-K through second grade will not have class Tuesday or Wednesday following the MLK holiday Monday. The after-school program was also cancelled for those days. Updates on any additional cancellations or relocations would be provided Wednesday. School officials have asked people to avoid going to the campus during the cleanup process, which began Sunday.  The Church of the Transfiguration, which shares the campus, did not suffer any damage to its buildings.

Residential, Residential High Rise

Austin, TX – Fire in downtown residential high-rise held in check by sprinkler system; No injuries

Two people have been displaced after a Wednesday night fire in a high-rise in downtown Austin, fire officials said. Firefighters responded at 10:22 p.m. to a fire that started on the stove of an eighth-floor unit at 85 Trinity Street, the Austin Fire Department said.

No one was injured. The sprinkler system activated and held the fire in check until firefighters arrived and extinguished the remaining fire, the department said. The apartments were evacuated, and everyone returned to their homes except the two displaced residents.  The Austin Housing Authority is assisting the two residents, firefighters said.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Brownwood, TX – Christmas day arson fire at McDonald’s put out by sprinkler system

Brownwood Police and Brownwood Fire Marshal Buddy Preston were called to McDonald’s restaurant on Christmas Day, located on E. Commerce in Brownwood, to investigate a burglary and fire. A fire was initially reported at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Friday.  When firefighters arrived, the sprinkler system had put out a small fire which had been started in the manager’s office, according to Preston.  Police were called to investigate a case of burglary as well.

“It appeared that a suspect had broken into the building and set the fire to destroy any evidence of the burglary,” said Brownwood Assistant Chief of Police James Fuller. According to police, an eye witness gave a description of a suspect who was located a short time later.  The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Jerry Herrera, who was arrested after the witness made a positive identification.  Herrera was charged with burglary of a building, arson and possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 equal or greater than 1 gram less than 4 grams.

Fuller stated, “There was some good work and great luck involved” regarding the quick arrest of the suspect. The arson and burglary are pending further investigation according to police and fire officials.  The fire was small and McDonald’s was open for business on Saturday.