Tag Archives: Texas

Apartment Building, Residential

Pearland, TX – (NO MEDIA COVERAGE) Single sprinkler head extinguishes apartment kitchen fire

*** NO MEDIA COVERAGE — FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED *** On January 13 at approximately 12:30 the Pearland Fire Department responded to the Stonepost Apartments at 12400 Shadow Creek Parkway for a fire alarm. Upon arrival the first responding engine company found one activated fire sprinkler head in the kitchen in one of the apartments that extinguished the fire on the stovetop with some charring to the microwave above.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Houston, TX (No Media Coverage) – Laundry room fire at senior living facility contained by sprinkler system

***NO MEDIA – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED*** On 1/22 at approximately 9:00 p.m. a fire occurred at a senior living apartment complex. A fire occurred in the laundry room of a resident’s apartment (dryer fire). One sprinkler head activated, and contained the fire to the laundry room. Fire loss approximately $15,000. Total property valued at $250,000.

Government/Military, Military Facility

Fort Hood, TX – Fire at Fort Hood dining facility suppressed with help from sprinkler system

A fire caused minor damage to a dining facility on north Fort Hood Wednesday afternoon.  Directorate of Emergency Services personnel were dispatched around 2:20 p.m. after a fire was reported at the DFAC facility.  “As a safety precaution, the building manager had already evacuated personnel in the building due to the sprinkler system discharging water and possible interaction with the electrical system,” a Fort Hood spokesperson said.  When emergency personnel arrived, the fire was already extinguished.  It was not immediately clear what caused the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Apartment kitchen fire controlled by single automatic sprinkler, limiting fire damage

Firefighters were called to the Magnolia Ranch Apartments, 3191 Medical Center Dr., at 6:21 p.m. last night for a water flow alarm. They arrived to find that a cooking fire in the kitchen had been extinguished by an overhead fire sprinkler. The single sprinkler is credited for the limited fire damage and shines a light on the value of having fire sprinkler systems installed. The resident was treated for smoke inhalation.   According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), kitchen fires account for about half of all home fires and fire injuries. Unattended cooking was a factor in 33 percent of all kitchen fires.  “This demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems. A kitchen fire like this could spread quickly in an apartment building environment,” says McKinney Fire Marshal Mike Smith. “Without the sprinkler system, the outcome could have been much worse.

Government/Military, Public Library

Dallas, TX – Sprinkler system protects downtown public library from overnight fire

An overnight fire damaged the main public library building in downtown Dallas.

Firefighters were called to the Erik Jonsson Central Library at 12:15 Sunday morning on a report of smoke inside the building.

Dallas Fire Rescue called in backup crews because of the size of the building.

The source of the smoke was a light fixture, which experienced an electrical short in a lower storage area of the library, according to Dallas Fire Rescue.

The fire was extinguished immediately after the sprinkler system activated, which limited the damage to the light fixture and the ceiling nearby, Dallas Fire Rescue said.

No one was injured.

Other Business

McKinney, TX – Fire at animal care center suppressed by sprinkler system; No animals reported injured

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident at 2:45 p.m. Dec. 25 at the SPCA of Texas, Russell H Perry Animal Care Center, 8411 Stacy Rd. Upon arrival, first responders noted the fire alarm system had activated and reported heavy smoke conditions in a rear laundry room.  Further investigation noted a fire in the dryer had activated the fire sprinkler system and suppressed the fire within the dryer itself until fully extinguished by responding fire personnel.  A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage, saving an estimated $1.1 million in property loss and reinforcing the value of fire sprinkler systems in commercial businesses.  Twenty-nine MFD personnel and investigators from the fire marshal’s office responded to the fire. No injuries were reported to any of the animals. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.

“Another sprinkler save successfully demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in a commercial occupancy. Undoubtedly, this single sprinkler activation prevented a major loss to the SPCA of Texas,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew Barr.

For additional information on fire protection systems, code requirements or other fire prevention topics, visit mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Houston, TX – Sprinkler system contains workplace fire to one room; No injuries reported

On Dec. 18 at approximately 8:00 p.m. Cy-Fair Fire Department requested HCFMO investigators assist with a fire in the 11900 block of FM 529, Houston, TX. Investigators determined the fire started due to an electrical failure of a universal battery charger that was left on a desk.

“The building’s fire sprinkler system activated and contained the fire to one room,” said Public Information Officer Rachel Moreno. “Only one sprinkler head activated, minimizing fire damage and saving the building.”

Employees were in the building at the time of the fire. All fire protection systems operated as designed and limited damage. Investigators estimate the fire caused approximately $20,000 in damage.

The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office Investigations Division is responsible for fire, arson, and explosion investigations in unincorporated Harris County.

Other - School / University, School / University

San Antonio, TX – Fire at school bus garage put out with help from sprinkler system

An early morning fire damaged a Northeast ISD bus barn on Monday.  The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. and at one point, 25 fire units were called out to the location at the NEISD North Transportation Terminal.  Fire crews say the fire started in a desk drawer within a building at the terminal. The fire was put out quickly with the help of the building’s sprinkler system. No one was injured in the fire.  Fire officials say the fire did about $5,000 worth of damage.  None of the buses were damaged in the fire and routes were expected to proceed as normal Monday morning.

Apartment Building, Residential

Conroe, TX – (Fire Dept Reported) Apartment fire held in check by automatic sprinkler system

The City of Conroe Fire Department was notified of an apartment fire at 2213 N Frazier St. (Oak Creek Apartments) at approximately 12:08 p.m. on December 15, 2017. Conroe Firefighters arrived at approximately 12:16 p.m. and discovered a fire in the living room of one apartment unit which had activated two fire sprinkler heads. The sprinkler heads held the fire in the smaller stages until firefighters were able to complete extinguishment.

The occupant of the apartment was transported to Conroe Regional ER with smoke inhalation. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or other occupants of the building. Fire and water damage was confined to the apartment of origin. The fire is believed to have originated in a living room couch. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For the second time in three days within the City of Conroe, the importance of properly installed and maintained automatic fire sprinkler systems in residential occupancies has been demonstrated. It is likely that the automatic fire sprinkler system saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and property loss to the building’s owners and occupants. Further, no adjacent occupants were displaced and possible injuries and deaths to citizens and firefighters were prevented.

Automatic fire sprinkler systems have over 100 years of proven performance protecting life and property. This incident represents the third time in 2017 that an apartment fire has been extinguished in the area of origin with the assistance of an automatic fire sprinkler system.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Sprinkler system prevents major damage to apartment complex due to unattended cooking

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to an incident at 11:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Retreat at Stonebridge Ranch, 1920 Grassmere Lane, for an appliance fire and water flow alarm.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered there was a grease fire and the fire sprinkler system had activated, extinguishing the fire in the apartment kitchen. A single sprinkler head is credited for the minimal fire damage, saving an estimated $1.5 million in property loss and reinforcing the value of fire sprinkler systems in residential structures.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was determined to be unattended cooking.

“Another sprinkler save successfully demonstrates the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinkler systems in a residential apartment building. Undoubtedly, this single sprinkler activation prevented a major loss,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Andrew Barr. “Further, this reinforces the recommendation to not leave the kitchen area while cooking at any time.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), kitchen fires account for 49 percent of all home fires and fire injuries with unattended cooking being a factor in 33 percent of all kitchen fires.

For additional information on fire protection systems, code requirements or other fire prevention topics, visit www.mckinneyfire.org or call 972-547-2862.