Tag Archives: Texas

Government/Military, Prison / Jail

Brenham, TX – Sprinklers activate to help contain fire that started in jail laundry; No injuries

An overnight fire in the laundry room at the Washington County Jail set off the alarms and the sprinkler system, according to Chief Deputy Jay Petrash . The jail staff discovered the fire around early Tuesday morning. Brenham Fire Department personnel arrived within minutes extinguishing the flames.

Fire personnel used high pressured fans to remove heavy smoke from the area, while jail work crews cleaned the charred clothing from the machines and removed water from the room and hallway. Chief Petrash said that none of the 100 housed inmates or jail personnel had to be evacuated, and no one was injured. The fire is believed to have started due to a build- up of lent in one of the dryer’s filter, however, the cause is still being investigated by the Brenham Fire Marshall’s Office.

Sheriff’s Office personnel are still assessing the damage and will be awaiting review by insurance as it relates to replacement of equipment and costs.

Other / Not Specified, Other Business

Cleburne, TX – Sprinklers help extinguish fire caused by welding in paint booth area

A Saturday fire at Greenbrier Rail Services caused minor injury to one worker. Cleburne firefighters responded at about 4 p.m. to the 100 block of Park Street on reports of a structure fire.  Firefighters used about 2,500 gallons of water extinguishing the fire, which was also in part extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system.

 Firefighters arrived to find heavy black smoke emitting from a building used to paint rail cars.  All employees exited the building before firefighters arrived. A contractor was installing “fall protection” in the paint booth area, according to reports, a process that requires welding. One of the employees was on a scissor lift welding when the fire started, a fire apparently sparked by a spark that came into contact with air filters in the paint booth.

The man on the scissor lift told firefighters the fire spread so fast that he was unable to access the scissor lift’s controls. The man climbed down the side of the scissor lift to escape suffering minor burns in the process. The man was treated on scene and not transported to the hospital.

Another employee standing watch on fire guard told firefighters that the fire spread so quickly that he was unable to extinguish it with an extinguisher.

 

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Beaumont, TX – Fire at elementary school put out by single sprinkler

A small fire was put out by the sprinkler system at the Fletcher Elementary campus Friday morning. The fire was reported around 6 a.m. at the campus located at 1055 Ave. F after a custodian found smoke in the building and water from a sprinkler.

Beaumont Fire Rescue Captain Brad Penisson told 12News the fire was out before firefighters arrived. It appears an extension cord overheated and caught a cardboard box on fire in one of the offices. The fire activated a sprinkler head which put out the fire.

The fire was contained to the office, but there is smoke throughout the building and water in a large area. Teachers are telling parents who arrive with students that there will be no classes today at Fletcher.

Apartment Building, Residential

Temple, TX – Sprinklers stop spread of apartment fire caused by rechargeable battery

Investigators say a rechargeable battery for a radio controlled model airplane is what started a fire at a Temple apartment Tuesday afternoon. Temple Fire & Rescue crews responded to a fire call at about 3 p.m. at Pecan Pointe Apartments. Firefighters saw smoke coming from the apartment, and were able to quickly locate the flames and extinguish them.

Firefighters credit the building’s fire sprinkler system with limiting the fire damage to the one apartment, which received a little fire damage, along with moderate smoke and water damage. One downstairs apartment also received water damage.

No injuries were reported, but the fire displaced two families. The apartment is making arrangements to house those families. The fire, which was under control by 3:21 p.m., was ruled unintentional. Investigators say a rechargeable battery for a radio controlled model airplane is what started the blaze.

Temple PD and Scott & White EMS also responded to the call.

Primary / Secondary School, School / University

Colleyville, TX – Fire at elementary school extinguished by sprinkler system

The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School district has determined that classes will be canceled at a Colleyville school Friday after a small fire. District officials tell NBC 5 the fire was contained to a classroom in the second grade wing of Bransford Elementary School in the 600 Block of Glade Road in Colleyville.

The school will be closed Friday so crews can continue to clean and assess the damage. The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading and extinguished it, according to Heather Willden with the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.

Apartment Building, Residential

New Braunfels, TX – Sprinklers assist in extinguishing apartment blaze; No injuries reported

New Braunfels Firefighters were called out to the Ranch at the Guadalupe at 1355 Ranch Parkway for a fire last Tuesday afternoon. Crews were dispatched at 3pm. for a fire alarm. When they arrived on scene, officials say there was smoke showing from a 3rd floor apartment, but that a fire-sprinkler system had activated. A microwave is being blamed for starting the fire in the kitchen. Fire crews finished extinguishing the blaze, and called the fire under control at 3:21pm..

Apartment Building, Restaurant

San Antonio, TX – Restaurant fire in mixed-use residential building suppressed by sprinkler system

San Antonio fire officials responded to the fire just after 2 a.m. at the Saltgrass Steakhouse on River Street near E. Crockett and N. Presa streets. The restaurant’s sprinkler system kept the fire contained and damage was limited to the kitchen. 

Firefighters said the flames started in the river level kitchen at the restaurant and appeared to be electrical in nature.  About 25 residents from about 15 apartments above the restaurant were evacuated due to smoke, but later allowed to go back inside. No injuries were reported.

Office Building

Fort Worth, TX – Fire at Mutual of Omaha high rise contained by sprinkler system

Emergency crews in Fort Worth responded to a fire alarm at a 12-story building on Thursday morning. It happened at about 3:45 a.m. at the Mutual of Omaha Bank building, located in the 6300 block of Ridglea Place.

Firefighters arrived at the scene and found a small fire in a cabinet on the building’s third floor. The flames were enough to start the building’s automatic sprinkler system and set off the fire alarm.

Crews had the fire extinguished within about 10 minutes of its discovery. After an extensive search of all floors, workers determined that the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The overnight cleaning crews had already left the premises, and there were no reports of injuries. Investigators determined that the fire was an accident.

Workers have now moved on to damage assessment. Fire crews helped clear smoke from the building and a contractor was brought in to assist with water removal. An estimate of the damages has not yet been released.

Robert Pike is a CPA with offices in the building. He said that the timing of the fire could not be worse, as the last weeks of March and start of April are busy days for tax preparers. Delays from the incident could put financial workers behind in their work.

Apartment Building, Residential

Pasadena, TX – Apartment kitchen fire extinguished by sprinkler system

2 Comments

** NO MEDIA COVERAGE – Fire Department Reported **
On Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 7:34 pm, the Pasadena Fire Department responded to a reported Automatic Fire Alarm at 3271 Shaver Street in Pasadena.  Upon their arrival firefighters were advised that it was a false alarm but that the water flow alarm was also activated.

Investigation by fire department personnel revealed that there had been a small fire in the kitchen of one of the apartment units which activated a single sprinkler head and extinguished the fire. No Injuries were reported. Fire damage was confined to the top of the stove and the cooking container and water damage was confined to the apartment of origin. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.

This incident shows the importance of an automatic fire sprinkler system and demonstrates that if the building did not have an automatic sprinkler system, the outcome could have been completely different.

Furthermore there is no doubt whatsoever that at the very least the presence of a sprinkler system saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and property loss to the building owners and potentially prevented citizens and firefighters from being injured or killed.

Hotel / Motel, Hotel / Restaurant

Beaumont, TX – Sprinkler douses fire at Candlewood Suites; Guests return to rooms within the hour

At approximately 8:00 AM, Beaumont Fire Rescue units responded to KJP Hospitality Hotel located at 5355 Clearwater Court.   When firefighters arrived, they found a fire in a room on the first floor.  The sprinkler system had activated and controlled the fire, confining it to a small area of one room but there was smoke throughout the first floor.

The manager reported there were 30 rooms occupied at the time of the fire.   All occupants were able to evacuate without injury. The fire appears to have been caused by a heating unit attached to a massage bed.   The smoke was cleared and occupants were allowed to return to their rooms within the hour.