Tag Archives: Texas

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – (No media coverage) Fire sprinkler shuts down grease fire at apartment; No injuries reported

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a call Saturday evening about a grease fire in a kitchen at the 1701 at Eldorado apartments. MFD units arrived to find the fire had been extinguished by a single fire sprinkler head placed in the ceiling above the stove that kept damage to a minimum. No one was injured.

“Incidents like this highlight the need for more home fire sprinkler systems;” said McKinney Fire Marshal Mike Smith. “Without the fire sprinkler’s fast response, those flames would have spread quickly. That means more costly damage and a longer repair time.”

Fire Fact: Only intense heat can activate a fire sprinkler system.  Smoke will not cause water to release from the sprinkler heads

More safety information can be located at www.mckinneyfire.org or www.nfpa.org.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – (no media coverage) Fire sprinkler stops flames after explosion at apartment; No injuries reported

(Oct. 18, 2019) – The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded for a call about an explosion and fire at the Lakes of Eldorado apartments, 1400 Eldorado Pkwy., at 10:38 p.m. Thursday. MFD crews arrived to find the fire sprinkler system activated and a window and the patio doors blown out. Fire investigators determined that the resident had sprayed pressurized cans of insect killer in an enclosed area. When the clothes dryer was turned on, it caused the fumes to explode. Fortunately, a single fire sprinkler activated, putting out a fire in a trash can. The force of the blast pushed two walls back approximately 2-3 inches. Because of the potential structural damage, the residents of 8 units have been evacuated. The Red Cross is helping those people find places to stay. No one was hurt.
“This is a great reminder to always read the warning labels on pressurized cans,” said McKinney Fire Marshal Mike Smith. “This can clearly said not to use in confined spaces or near any active appliances.”

Uncategorized

Beaumont, TX – Overheated industrial equipment causes structure fire, contained by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

Jefferson County first responders have been called to a reported structure fire in the 6300 block of Industrial Rd. at Fred Clark Felt Co. near Cheek. 

Officials said the fire was a small one, and has been extinguished. 

It’s believed a piece of industrial equipment that may have overheated caused the fire, but the cause is still under investigation. 

Officials said the sprinkler system in the building helped contain the fire. 

No one was injured according to officials. 

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Plant

San Antonio, TX – Sprinkler system puts out fire at local plant; No injuries reported

Nearly 30 fire crews responded to a report of a 2-alarm fire at a facility on the Northeast Side on Friday morning.

The fire was reported at about 6 a.m. at a plant located at Nacogdoches Road and Wurzbach Parkway.

Aerial footage showed several people were evacuated from the building; they stood in the parking lot as fire crews worked inside and outside the plant.

The San Antonio Fire Department reported the fire was out by 7:30 a.m. and crews were working to ventilate the building. An agency spokesperson said the fire may have started with the machinery; it was extinguished by the sprinkler system.

No one was hurt.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Farmers Branch, TX – (no media coverage) Assisted living kitchen fire extinguished by single fire sprinkler head; No injuries reported

On Tuesday, September 10, 2019, the Farmers Branch Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm call to Brookdale Assisted Living Center, located at 13505 Webb Chapel, Farmers Branch, TX 75234.

Upon arrival, a maintenance employee met Truck 131 crew at the fire pump room and stated he had a sprinkler head go off due to a cooking fire.  While the pot was on fire, an employee took the burning pot to the sink to pour water over the burning pot.  During this action, the sprinkler head above the sink activated and extinguished the fire.  No injuries occurred.

T131 crew shut down the sprinkler system by turning off the main control valve and opening main drain.   Administration was advised that the sprinkler head would have to be replaced before the system could be restored. 

Parking Garage

Farmers Branch, TX – (No media coverage) Single sprinkler head activates to put out open parking garage fire

On 8/11/19 at approximately 14:20, the Farmers Branch Fire Department was dispatched to a fire in an open parking garage located at 9 Medical Pkwy.  Engine E131 arrived on scene to find a small fire on level 2 of the parking garage with automatic sprinkler activation.   One sprinkler head activated.  Fire was contained to gasoline powered pressure washer and gasoline can for car washing operation. Engine 131 used a nearby dry chemical fire extinguisher to extinguish the remaining gasoline fire. Engine 131 closed down the sprinkler system and drained it.  Loss is estimated at $300.  No damage to the structure or vehicles inside the garage.

Apartment Building, Residential

Pearland, TX – (no media coverage) Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by fire sprinkler

On Friday August 9, 2019 at approx 12pm, The Pearland Fire Department responded to the 6500 Blk of Broadway St. Pearland, TX for a fire alarm at an apartment complex. While units were arriving on location’s security gates, dispatch advised that FD could disregard response, and that property management advised that it was a false alarm. PFD engine checked by the scene instead of disregarding, and found a maintenance person running down the stairs advising that he kicked the door into one of the units and the apartment was filled will smoke. Firefighters investigated and found that an unattended pot was left on the stove. The sprinkler head in the kitchen activated and extinguished the fire on the stove, The fire was contained to the stove and overhead microwave area.

Office Building, Other Business

Aldine, TX – (No media coverage) Commercial building fire suppressed by fire sprinkler system

8/4/19

Fire in a commercial building;  Aldine FD   AES save

16400 Air Center Blvd

Fire in a commercial building

1908-00014

Lt. Lopez

FD responded to an alarm and on arrival, they noticed water coming from under the roll up doors.  They smelled smoke and saw smoke coming from a large vent on the side of the building.  Access was made inside and discovered boxes and other items had burned and suppresses by the sprinkler system.  The sprinkler system was turned off and Inspections notified.  The boxes and other items were a trash pile that employees designated the area because they were no dumpsters yet.  Employees were moving in over the weekend to set up their offices.  There was a table being built that was stained and pieced of wood were in the trash pile.  There are two possibilities for the cause of the fire;  discarded smoking material or discarded rags with wood stain.  At this time the fire is undetermined. 

Manufacturing, Power / Energy Facility

Temple, TX – Fire in nature gas turbine at power plant contained by fire sprinkler system

 Several Temple fire crews responded to a fire in a natural gas turbine at the Panda Power Plant in East Temple at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Temple Fire Department Training Chief Johnathan Christian said. 

Temple Fire Chief Mitch Randles said the fire suppression system at the plant contained the fire but firefighters stayed on scene to make sure it did not spread.

Randles could not say for sure how the fire started but he said no one was injured.

When firefighters got to the plant, two engine crews had to hook up their hoses inside the plant, Christian said. The first crew put out most of the fire, with the help of the plant’s sprinkler system and fire suppression system.

Firefighters still had to work for at least an hour to put out hot spots once the main fire was under control. 

Christian said there are always concerns with fires at power plants, but putting out this one was a smooth operation. 

“Once they had a fire in the system, they shut down the whole turbine and generator,” he said. “Everything in the system was shut down.” 

Five engines, one ladder truck and one command vehicle went to the scene. Christian said the plant has four turbines in total, and the other three are still working.  

The Panda Temple Power Plant  is a clean natural gas-fueled, 758-megawatt combined-cycle facility, according to the company’s website. The plant can supply the power needs of up to 750,000 homes, the website says.

The department will investigate how the fire started.