Tag Archives: Texas

Apartment Building, Residential

Orange, TX – Sprinkler system activation controls apartment fire

Firefighters in Orange say a group of Samaritans forced entry into an apartment Sunday to extinguish a fire.

Orange Fire Department was dispatched to a fire at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday at the Velma Jeter Apartments, in the 5700 block of Velma Jeter Drive in Orange.

According to residents at the scene, they were awakened by the sounding fire alarm going off from the blaze. 

Several residents noticed the fire in the apartment and quickly grabbed nearby fire extinguishers to extinguish the blaze.  

One man broke the glass to retrieve an extinguisher stored in the complex’s sidewalk, kicked in the apartment door and extinguished the fire. The man had to be treated on the scene by fire responders due to smoke inhalations after he collapsed from going inside the burning unit. 

He did not require transport to a hospital.

When firefighters arrived, the fire was mostly out with heavy smoke coming from the unit. They did spend some time verifying the fire was out and that the damage was limited to the single unit.

The occupant of the apartment was not home at the time, and according to neighbors, the resident was seen moving out earlier in the day.

The fire could have been much worse had the sprinkler system not done its job and the residents had not teamed up and worked together according to firefighters.

Nine portable fire extinguishers were used by the neighbors before the fire department arrived.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the City of Orange Fire Marshal.

Grocery Store / Super Center, Retail

Houston, TX – Suspected arson fire at grocery store extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries reported

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office needs your help finding an arson suspect so bold, he or she set a store on fire in the middle of the afternoon.

New video shows a mystery person set multiple small fires along the back wall of the 99 Cents Only store on SH-249 near Bammel North Houston Road.

Authorities said a sprinkler head activated and put out the flames. There were no injuries.

If you have any information on the suspect, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. You can also submit an anonymous tip at www.Crime-Stoppers.org.

Apartment Building, Residential

Tomball, TX – Single Sprinkler Head Saves 20 Unit Apartment Building

** User Submitted Post – No Media Coverage**  – On Sunday, May 19, 2019 at approximately 5:19pm, the Tomball Fire Department was notified of a structure fire at the Fountains of Tomball Apartment Homes, a 160 unit apartment complex in the 900 block of Village Square Drive in Tomball. The first arriving unit encountered a large volume of smoke and fire on the first floor porch of a 20 unit apartment building. Fire Marshal Joe Sykora said, “Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the porch fire. Entry was made into the apartment and firefighters discovered a fire sprinkler head had extinguished the fire that had entered the apartment from the porch.” All residents of building were evacuated from the structure, notified by the buildings fire alarm system. One injury was sustained to the occupant of the apartment and the occupant was evaluated by the Northwest Community Health Emergency Medical Services Division.

The Tomball Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire. Investigators determined that the fire was caused by a malfunctioning propane barbeque pit on the porch of the apartment. Only one residential unit was affected by this incident.

Apartment Building, Residential

Stafford, TX – (No media coverage) Single sprinkler extinguishes kitchen grease fire before fire department arrives

** User Submitted Post – No Media Coverage**  On 5/16/2019 at approximately 0540 hours, Investigators from Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office were dispatched to a kitchen fire at 630 Colony Lakes Estates Drive Stafford, TX 77477. Stafford FD was on scene requesting fire investigators.  Upon arrival of investigators, they found that a cooking fire in the kitchen of a residential apartment had occurred. The fire was due to cooking grease coming in contact with the heating surface of the stove. The fire resulted in the activation of one sprinkler head, which extinguished the fire prior to the arrival of the fire department. Firefighters checked for fire extension with no findings.  Only one residential unit was affected by this incident.

Restaurant

San Antonio, TX – Sprinkler system keeps overnight restaurant kitchen fire from spreading

Food left cooking on a stove all night long is believed to be the cause of a fire at Scuzzi’s Italian restaurant overnight. Firefighters say they found a small fire inside the restauarant, located near Loop 1604 and NW Military, when they arrived shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday. They had to break open the front door of the business, then quickly knocked down the fire.

Firefighters said it appears someone left the stove on all night with food cooking on it, and that is what caused the fire. The sprinkler system activated and kept the fire from spreading, firefighters said. A food inspector from San Antonio Metropolitan Health District was called in to have a look around after the fire. The outcome of that investigation will determine what repairs need to be done before the restaurant can reopen. From outside, the damage appeared to be minimal, although the fire did leave an odor of smoke throughout the building.

Apartment Building, Residential

Sugar Land, TX – (no media coverage) Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system

** No Media Coverage – Fire Department Reported ** On 04/02/2019 at approximately 1854 hours, investigators from Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office were dispatched to the scene of an apartment fire that was located in the 14000 FM 1464 Sugar Land, TX 77498. Northeast Fire Department was on location of the fire. They reported that the fire was a cooking grease fire which activated the kitchen sprinkler head nearest to the stove, resulting to extinguishment of the fire prior to fire crews arrival. There was very minor damage to the interior of the apartment. No other living units were affected.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Farmers Branch, TX – (no media) Hotel laundry room fire suppressed by single sprinkler

*** Fire Department Reported — No Media Coverage *** On March 21, 2019, at approximately 11:03 pm, Farmers Branch Fire Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm call at 2645 LBJ, Wyndham Garden Dallas North Hotel. Quint 133 arrived on scene and discovered smoke in the laundry room and upgraded the response to a structure fire. After further investigation, the fire was suppressed by an automatic sprinkler system (1 sprinkler head). Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire was spontaneous ignition of cloth rags in a laundry cart located in laundry room. Fire was isolated to the laundry cart and contents, causing no structural damage.

Other - Retail, Retail

Spring, TX – Overnight fire at Home Depot contained by sprinkler system

The Spring Fire Department was dispatched to the Home Depot in the 20100 block of Interstate 45, around 5:00 AM, Saturday morning.

When firefighters arrived they found several shelving units of merchandise on fire in the garden center.

HCFMO Investigators say that a fire sprinkler head was activated, containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – (no media coverage) Garage fire at apartment complex contained by sprinkler system

** No Media Coverage – FD Reported ** The McKinney Fire Department was called to a reported structure fire at approximately 7:45 a.m. today, Feb. 28, at the Orion McKinney Apartments, 2581 Collin McKinney Pkwy. The resident in the apartment reported heavy smoke coming from the garage area. Activation of a garage fire sprinkler contained the fire and eventually extinguished it. Everyone got out safely. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“Garage fires can spread farther and cause more injuries and property loss than fires in other parts of your home,” said McKinney Fire Marshal Mike Smith. “Make sure flammable items like gas, paints and propane are properly stored.”

Fact: Every year there are 6,600 garage fires in homes that result in an average of 30 deaths and $457 million in property loss.

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