Tag Archives: Texas

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler activation stops apartment kitchen fire

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a water flow alarm at 3300 N. McDonald St. this afternoon. A cooking fire went out of control, but before it could spread, the fire sprinkler system kicked in. It took one sprinkler head to stop the fire.

FEMA reports more than half of all residential fires are due to cooking. No other risk factor comes close.

Ways to prevent a kitchen fire:

– Never leave cooking food unattended.

– Use a timer so you’ll remember the stove or oven is on.

– Always check the kitchen before leaving the home or going to bed.

– Enforce a ‘kid-free zone” at least three feet from the stove.

– Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen and near sleeping areas.

“Keep your cooking areas clean of grease and clear of flammable clutter like pot holders or food packaging,” said Mike Smith, McKinney Fire Marshal. “A few steps can save you a serious injuries or damage.”

Apartment Building, Residential

Atascocita, TX – (No Media Coverage) Apartment fire extinguished by single sprinkler

*** FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED – No Media Coverage ***
On March 6, HCFMO investigators were requested by Atascociata Fire Department to assist with an apartment fire. Investigators determined a resident tried to move a burning pot of grease outside. When the resident moved the burning pot through the living room, one sprinkler head activated, putting the fire out. Damages: $4,000; Pre-incident value: $20,008,000.

Adult Care/Rehab Center, Hospital/Care Facility

Boerne, TX – (No Media Coverage) Utility room fire at long term care facility contained by single sprinkler head

**NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported ** On 3/2 at approximately 8 am a fire occurred at a long term care facility.  The fire was located in the utility room and was due to a gas fired water heater malfunction.  One sprinkler head activated and contained the fire to the utility room.  Fire loss was under $2500.  Appraised property value is $2.1 million.

Apartment Building, Residential

Humble, TX – (No Media Coverage) Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by single sprinkler

**NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported ** On Sunday February 25, 2018 investigators reported a sprinkler save at 4475 Wilson RD APT #7306. The tenant was heating up grease to fry food on the electric stove top when the fire occurred. The apartment suffered fire damage to the microwave and kitchen cabinet of each side of it. A single sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire prior to fire department arrival.

Total Property Damage from Fire/Sprinkler Activation: $7,000
Total Property Value: $306,000

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Apartment kitchen fire stopped by automatic sprinkler system

A man fell asleep shortly after starting to heat grease in a pan on last Friday. He woke up to a fire and attempted to throw the flaming pan into the sink, but missed. Fortunately, the Treymore in McKinney Apartments on Wilson Creek Parkway have fire sprinklers in the units. The McKinney Fire Department arrived to find the fire sprinkler activation had extinguished the flames.  “This could have been much worse. Grease fires can spread quickly. It is important to stay alert when you turn a stove or oven on,” said Chief Mike Smith, McKinney Fire Marshal.

Apartment Building, Residential

Houston, TX – (No Media Coverage) Sprinkler system controls apartment fire caused by unattended incense burning

**NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported** On Friday 02/23/2018, investigators responded to the Lexington at Champions Apartments in reference to an apartment fire. Tenants left incense burning, unattended, and it caught clothing on the floor on fire. The fire occurred on the 3rd floor of the apartment, in the tenants bedroom. One sprinkler head in the bedroom activated and kept the fire from spreading.

Apartment Building, Residential

Cypress, TX – (No Media Coverage) Kitchen grease fire extinguished by single automatic fire sprinkler

**NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported** On Sunday February 18, 2018, Cypress Creek Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at 11111 Grant Road. Engine 21 arrived on location at Building 11 with active alarm. Units were told there had been a fire in unit 1128. Crew investigated and found a extinguished grease fire in the kitchen sink. A single sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire.  PIO spoke with the tenant and he advised he was heating up grease and walked away to use the restroom. He came back out and the pot was smoking. He picked up the pot and carried it to the sink. During the moving of the pot it started to flame up so he sat it in the sink and turned the water on. The pot flared up and shortly after, the sprinkler activated and put the fire out. Property and contents lost valued at $10,000. Total property value, $260,000.

Retail, Shopping Mall

Odessa, TX – Sprinkler system activates in fire at retail store in shopping mall

Odessa Fire Rescue responded to a fire at the At Home located at Music City Mall on Sunday night, which is now under investigation as possible arson. An auto sprinkler alarm notified OFR of the fire, which they responded to around 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Music City Mall, 4101 E. 42nd St, Odessa Spokeswoman Andrea Goodson said. Goodson said there is little detail available on the fire due to it being under investigation, but Goodson said it was contained fairly quickly and there were no injuries reported. An At Home employee said the store is currently open, but about half of the store is closed off due to the damage.

Manufacturing, Other - Manufacturing

Houston, TX – Electrical fire in industrial building knocked down by sprinkler system

A fire that damaged a building in a northwest Houston industrial area Wednesday night was likely electrical, officials said.

The Houston Fire Department was initially called out to reports of a fire in a building around 9:40 p.m. at the intersection of Fairway Park Drive and Mitchelldale Street, just northwest of Loop 610 along U.S. 290.

There are a variety of commercial buildings and single-story offices in the vicinity of the building. The business housed there, Aramsco, is a rental provider of equipment for restoration companies.

Firefighters had to cut their way in through garage doors, and they found fire along a wall that separates an office and warehouse. The fire was extinguished quickly.

The sprinkler system went off and had already taken care of much of the fire, fire department officials said.

The arson division is investigating, but the incident could have been an electrical fire, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; Fire Department reports

Units from the McKinney Fire Department (MFD) and its’ investigators were called to an apartment building at 6150 Alma Rd. on Tuesday for a water flow alarm. A kitchen fire had broken out in a second floor unit. Fortunately, the fire had already been extinguished by the apartment’s Fire Sprinkler System. The cause of the fire was determined to be a stove burner that the occupant had left on, which caused a plastic bowl to ignite.  “Never leave cooking food unattended and double check that stoves and ovens have been turned off,” said McKinney Fire Marshal Michael Smith. “This case shows how sprinklers save lives and property – avoiding millions in damage and repair costs.”