Tag Archives: Texas

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Spring, TX – Restaurant fire sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading

Just after 3pm Ladder, 11-4 was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at a strip center in the 4100 block of Riley Fuzzel. While en route crews were notified that the manager from Woodson’s Local Tap called and advised there was smoke coming from Fajita Pete’s, a neighboring restaurant in the same strip center.

The response was upgraded to a commercial fire resulting in South County Stations 1,2,6 being added along with Spring and Porter Fire Department. L-114 arrived on the scene and found smoke coming from the restaurant which was not open for business at the time. Crews entered the structure and found the fire sprinklers had activated and were keeping a small fire in the kitchen area from spreading. The crews extinguished the remaining fire preventing any further damage. The scene was determined under control within 5 minutes of arrival and other responding units were placed in service.

The fire is being investigated by the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office

Apartment Building, Residential

Longview, TX – Apartment fire extinguished by fire sprinklers

A small fire appears to have begun in a closet at the Churchill of Longview Apartments, according to Kevin May with Longview Fire Department.

The fire began at about 8:42 a.m. Friday, at the 1500 block of E. Whaley Street. May said the small fire was extinguished by the sprinkler system.

May reports the damage was minimal with mostly water damage caused by the sprinkler. There were no injuries to the two people home at the time of the fire.

May said it appears to have been an accidental fire and the cause is under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

Addison, TX (no media coverage) – Single sprinkler head contains apartment fire; No injuries reported

We had another save over the weekend. Our crews responded to a reported automatic alarm and after investigation found water and smoke in an individual apartment. The occupant was asleep and not responsive and did not awake to either the smoke alarms or water activation of the one sprinkler head. He woke up after crews made entry into his apartment and he was escorted down stairs with no injury. The building value is around 45 Million. That is the 4th sprinkler save we have had in the last six months in Addison.

Nursing Home/Senior Living, Residential

Pflugerville, TX – Sprinkler system contains fire to single unit at senior living complex

The Pflugerville Fire Department is crediting an effective sprinkler system and fire alarms in potentially saving many lives at a senior living apartment complex.

Firefighters responded to reports of the structure fire at 500 Grand Ave. Parkway, the HomeTowne at Picadilly active senior living apartments, Thursday around 12:52 p.m. A total of nine fire department units, including a fire department ambulance, arrived around seven minutes later.

Upon arrival, they discovered the fire was on the third floor with smoke showing. An employee on the scene was complaining of smoke inhalation, but they refused ambulance transport.

Firefighters said the fire was contained to just one apartment unit, thanks to fast action from the building’s sprinkler system. They also said smoke alarms alerted children in the apartment, who then told their grandmother, and they exited together.

“We consider this a huge success and shows the value that smoke alarms and fire sprinklers bring to the community with regard to saving lives and property, especially residents in multifamily dwellings and in a senior community such as this,” the fire department said. “This is a good reminder for everyone to check your smoke alarms frequently and to have a plan to escape a fire in your home, and to practice it. Fire can become inescapable in as little as three minutes.”

Officials said the residents will be displaced from the fire, but all other apartments will be reoccupied on Thursday. There was significant smoke and water damage to the unit below.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – (no media coverage)Two fire sprinkler heads extinguish fish fry kitchen fire; No injuries reported

City of McKinney News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fire sprinklers stop fish fry fire in McKinney

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries

McKINNEY, Texas (July 27, 2020) The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a report of a structure fire at 575 Virginia Hills Dr. on Monday, July 20. MFD units arrived to find that a stovetop fire had been extinguished by two fire sprinkler heads located in the kitchen. Fire investigators say the resident was frying fish with the lid on. When the lid was removed, the hot grease ignited.

No one was injured and damage was limited to the stovetop, the microwave and cabinets above it.

   Safety considerations when cooking with oil:

  • Always stay in the kitchen when frying on the stovetop.
  • Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner.
  • Add food gently to the pot or pan so that the oil does not splatter.
  • Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan to smother the flames and turn off the burner.
  • If the fire does not go out or you don’t feel comfortable sliding a lid over the pan, get everyone out of your home. Call 911 from outside.

Apartment Building, Residential

San Antonio, TX – Apartment fire caused by curling iron put out by fire sprinkler system

Firefighter say a curling iron caused a fire and evacuation of an apartment complex near Downtown.

The fire started around 2:30 a.m. at The Baldwin at St. Paul Square on Center Street near Chestnut Street.

Firefighters say the fire was caused by a curling iron left too close to rolls of toilet paper. The smoke alarms alerted everyone to the fire and the building was evacuated.

The fire was contained to the one apartment and was put out by the building’s sprinkler system.

Estimated damages are $10,000 due to the smoke, water and fire damage.

All residents were able to return to their apartments except the unit with the fire.

Apartment Building, Residential

Jasper, TX – Apartment Kitchen Fire extinguished by fire sprinklers; No injuries reported

No one was injured in a fire that broke out late Thursday evening at the Prospect Point Apartments in the 200 block of Premier Drive, behind the Lowe’s Home Improvement Store.

The volunteers of the Jasper Fire Department were dispatched to that location shortly before midnight when it was reported that smoke was coming from an apartment.

Firemen arrived to find that the apartment’s automatic fire sprinkler had already extinguished the blaze, which apparently began on a stove in the kitchen.

Firemen said no one was home when the fire broke out.

Hotel / Restaurant, Restaurant

Houston, TX – Single sprinkler head controls restaurant grease fire; No injuries reported

The Harris County Fire Marshall released video of a fire at a local restaurant to remind people why you don’t put water on a grease fire.

Investigators were asked to assist Cypress Creek Fire Department with a fire at Pho X Trang on Monday in the 21500 block of SH 249.

There were a couple of lessons learned from this incident.

  • Never throw ice or water on a grease fire
  • Fire sprinklers save lives. The fire sprinkler system activated one sprinkler head, controlling the fire until the fire department arrived on the scene.

The fire was ruled an accident and there were no injuries reported.

Apartment Building, Residential

McKinney, TX – Fire sprinklers keep fire from spreading at second floor apartment

The McKinney Fire Department (MFD) responded to a reported water flow alarm at the Magnolia Ranch apartments located at 3191 Medical Center Dr., at 1 p.m. on May 17. Units arrived to find smoke alarms going off and water running off the balcony of one of the second floor apartments. Fire sprinklers kept the flames from spreading and firefighters were able to shut the fire sprinkler system down.

Office Building, Other Business

Montgomery County, TX – Single fire sprinkler controls fire and limits damage after neon wall sign caught fire at commercial building

Early this morning, Montgomery County Firefighters responded to a fire alarm in a multi-tenant commercial building.

A neon wall sign caught fire and started to spread slowly via a plastic plant used for wall decoration. The plastic material had previously been tested by an MCFMO Fire Inspector during an occupancy inspection and met safety codes for its ability to limit fire spread.

The fire eventually emitted enough heat to activate a single fire sprinkler, controlling the fire and preventing any business disruption for the building tenants.