Tag Archives: Texas

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Amarillo, TX – Sprinkler system keeps vehicle fire from spreading at wrecker service business

A wrecked car inside a storage facility was destroyed by fire at T-Miller Wrecker Service in Amarillo on Saturday morning.  Amarillo Fire Department responded to 1201 S. Johnson St. at 2:07 a.m. and found a light haze surrounding the large single-story metal storage building.

Fire crews entered and found a single car in the building on fire. The sprinkler system kept the fire from spreading to dozens of other vehicles, fire officials said. The fire was under control by 2:38 p.m.

A representative from the wrecker service said the vehicle that caught fire was involved in a wreck earlier and was the last one brought inside before the business closed at 6 p.m. Friday.

No injuries were reported. Fire damage was contained to the car. Minor heat damage was sustained to the ceiling above.

College/University (on campus), School / University

Dallas, TX – Fire at university high-rise building suppressed by sprinkler system

A firefighter was overcome by heat after crews put out a possible electrical fire Friday night at a high-rise in Stemmons Corridor.

The firefighter was taken to a hospital for observation and is expected to be OK after working the fire at West Coast University, 8435 North Stemmons Freeway, about 8 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said. The college offers degrees in the healthcare field. 

The first crews saw smoke on the sixth floor and found the fire in a break room. The cause hasn’t officially been determined, but it appears to have started near a microwave and be electrical in nature, according to fire investigators.

The fire triggered the automatic sprinkler system, which contained it to a small area, Evans said. Fire crews finished putting it out upon arrival.

There was minimal fire damage. Additional crews ventilated the building because smoke could be smelled throughout.  The fire itself didn’t cause any injuries.

Apartment Building, Residential

Conroe, TX – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system; No injuries

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** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTED**
The City of Conroe Fire Department was notified of an apartment fire at 500 Hickerson St. near N Frazier St. (Hollow Creek Apartments) at approximately 10:34 AM on June 22, 2016. Conroe Firefighters arrived at approximately 10:38 AM and discovered that there had been a fire in the kitchen of one of the apartment units which activated two sprinkler heads and extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries to firefighters or occupants of the building.  Fire damage was confined to the kitchen area.  Water damage was confined to the apartment of origin.  The cause of the fire was unattended cooking and was determined to be unintentional.

For the second time in one week 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. The Conroe Fire Department would like to remind the public that unattended cooking is the leading cause of residential fires in Conroe, and throughout the United States, each year.  Being mindful while you cook, however, can go a long way toward helping to prevent these fires:

**Keep an eye on what you fry
**Be alert when cooking
**Keep things that can catch fire away from the cooking area

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Fort Worth, TX – Sprinklers activate after books set on fire during elementary school break-in

There has been a break-in and six classrooms vandalized on the campus of a Crowley Independent School District elementary school.

The vandalism happened at Meadowcreek Elementary in Fort Worth, where Monday cleanup crews were busy mopping up.

In all, six rooms received water damage after fires caused the sprinkler system to go off. In addition to damage inside the school, graffiti was also spray-painted outside the building.

On what is supposed to be summer vacation, school officials are back on the Meadowbrook campus to oversee the cleanup of charred debris from burned books and school supplies.

According to a Crowley ISD spokesperson, the school was broken into and the books set on fire around 3 a.m. Monday. Right now, investigators are also looking in to whether several computer monitors were also stolen.

School cameras captured video of the suspect. It’s since been turned over to Fort Worth police.

Crowley district spokesperson Anthony Kirchner explained that the cleanup is expected to take a couple of weeks.

“It is disheartening to see that someone would cause this kind of damage and we want to make sure that person is apprehended,” he said adding that the summer break gives the district time for cleanup, repairs and equipment replacement. “This happened at a time when no students or teachers were here and we have plenty of time to get everything back.”

This isn’t the first time vandals have struck at Meadowcreek. This past Friday a window was broken at the school. It isn’t known if the two cases are connected.

Classes resume in the Crowley ISD on August 22.

Apartment Building, Residential High Rise

Houston, TX – High-rise apartment fire quickly extinguished by sprinkler system

A high-rise apartment building in southwest Houston was evacuated Tuesday night after a fire erupted in one of the units. The blaze broke out about 7:45 p. m. at the Conquistador apartments at 7575 Bellaire near Fondren, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Officials said the small fire was in an eighth-floor kitchen of the seventeen-story building. The sprinkler system operated well and the fire was quickly extinguished. Firefighters evacuated the building, cleared smoke from the high-rise and inspected electrical equipment to make sure water had not created hazards. Later, residents were allowed back inside their apartments. No injuries were reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

Abilene, TX – Overnight apartment fire put out by sprinkler system; No injuries

Abilene firefighters responded to an apartment fire in the 1200 block of Yeoman Road just after midnight early Sunday morning. When firefighters got to the scene the fire had already been put out by the apartment’s sprinkler system, but they did see some light smoke in the apartment next door.

Firefighters were able to clear out that smoke. Investigators said food cooking on the stove started the fire.  Damage is estimated at about $3,000.  No one was hurt.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Frisco, TX – Sprinkler system keeps early morning restaurant fire from spreading

A Frisco restaurant is temporarily closed, but spared thousands of dollars of damages thanks to their fire sprinkler system, according to the Frisco Fire Department. Frisco firefighters responded to a “water flow” call at 5:08 a.m. on May 21 from the alarm company that monitors the Posados on the 9500 block of S.H. 121.

When the firefighters arrived at 5:14 a.m., they discovered a kitchen full of smoke.  It took four engines and two ladder trucks to put out the fire at 5:30 a.m.

“The fire sprinkler system did what it’s supposed to do,” said Captain Kevin Haines of the Frisco Fire Department. “The restaurant was closed and no one was working at the time. That early in the morning, there are fewer people ‘out and about’, who might to notice and report a problem. In this case, the activated sprinklers slowed the fire’s ability to grow until firefighters arrived. There’s no doubt, fire sprinklers save property and lives.”

The Frisco Posados will be closed at least five days for repairs. There has been no report of any injuries.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Dallas, TX – Automatic sprinkler system contains fire at Texas high school; No injuries

A fire Wednesday at South Oak Cliff High School apparently was started by a burning computer in a classroom, Dallas Fire-Rescue says.

Firefighters were called to the school after classes ended. It appeared that a computer had caught fire and burned some cabinets, filling a third-floor hallway with smoke.

The automatic sprinkler system contained the fire. Fifty to 100 people were at the school for after-school activities. No injuries were reported.

Earlier Wednesday, about 50 students staged a walkout at the school to protest the condition of the building. The students have been complaining for months about leaky roofs, temperature problems and other problems. They want a new building.

It’s projected that the building will receive up to $40 million in improvements under the 2015 bond program.

 

Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse

Austin, TX – Fire in 18-wheeler extends into warehouse; Sprinklers extinguish blaze

A fire that began in an 18-wheeler and spread to a warehouse in southeast Austin late Thursday night has caused about $100,000 worth of damage. Crews with the Austin Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m. to the fire that started in the 18-wheeler full of cardboard on Freidrich Lane.  Officials said the fire extended to a nearby warehouse, but a sprinkler system quickly put out the flames.

Crews were able to put out the fire inside the 18-wheeler shortly after arriving at the scene. No injuries were reported in the fire.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Houston, TX – Fire at assisted living center extinguished with help from sprinkler system; No injuries

Residents at an assisted-living facility were evacuated Tuesday night when fire damaged portions of the building in southeast Houston. The fire broke out about 9 p.m. at the Paul Chase Commons in the 16400 block of Moon Rock Drive, said District Chief Tim Lockwood of the Houston Fire Department.

Lockwood said the 26-room, two-story facility was evacuated after fire was sparked in one of the rooms. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, with the help of the facility’s sprinkler system. No injuries were reported.

 The fire, Lockwood said, appeared to begin in the unit’s air conditioner. Six to eight units were damaged, and smoke billowed throughout the building.  After the smoke was cleared and firefighters determined the facility was safe, residents were allowed back inside. Those living in the damaged units were relocated. The fire remained under investigation.