Fire Safety Inspections Services conducts fire safety inspections of public and private buildings and facilities throughout the state, including state buildings, daycare and elder-care centers, foster homes, hospitals, hotels and motels, university and college buildings, and other buildings upon request or complaint. Inspections of storage, handling, and use of flammable liquids are conducted at retail service stations throughout the state.
State Agency and University Fires Reported: State owned and leased facilities FY 2010
Texas A&M University-College Station reported a fire on September 18, 2009, in the University Recycle Center Building. The fire was caused from an overheating light ballast in a ceiling-mounted fluorescent fixture. The fire extended to the wood framing above the ceiling and damaged several ceiling joists. The fire was reported by telephone to the campus radio room, and the College Station and Bryan Fire Departments responded. The fire was controlled without incident.
State Agency and University Fires Reported: State owned and leased facilities FY 2009
San Angelo State Supported Living Center (a component of San Angelo State School) reported a fire on August 23, 2009, in a dormitory. A client obtained a lighter, took the curtains down from a window and placed them on her bed. She then set fire to the curtains. She had previously had a lighter taken away for a similar incident. The fire alarm activated and the building was evacuated. Center staff extinguished the fire. There was no fire department response.
Sam Houston State University reported a fire in the Smith-Hudson Building on July 16, 2009. The fire was confined to a trash container. The building fire alarm sounded and the building was evacuated. The Huntsville Fire Department responded.
Texas A&M University-College Station reported a fire in the Chemistry Building 484-32 wing on July 1, 2009. The fire resulted from a chemical reaction in a laboratory during an experiment. The building fire alarm was activated and the area evacuated. The fire was contained by the sprinkler system to an area around the fume hood. The College Station Fire Department responded.
Texas A&M University-College Station reported a fire in the College View Apartments on June 8, 2009. The fire started when a student left a plastic container on a stove that was turned on, and the student then left the apartment. Damage was limited to the stove and scorched paint on the adjacent walls. The fire detection and alarm system activated and the residents were evacuated. The College Station fire department responded.
The Department of Aging and Disability’s San Angelo State School reported a fire on April 22, 2009. The fire occurred in a dormitory and was caused by a client setting a mattress on fire with a cigarette lighter. The alarm was initiated and the building was evacuated with no injuries. The fire was extinguished with a portable fire extinguisher.
Lamar University-Beaumont reported a fire that occurred on April 22, 2009. The fire started with a bathroom ventilation fan in the Cardinal Village Dormitory Complex. The detection system activated the building fire alarm and the building was evacuated. The sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire. The room occupants were not at home at the time of the fire. The Beaumont Fire Department responded. Damage was limited to the area of origin.
The University of North Texas reported a fire in the West Hall Cafeteria Kitchen on March 24, 2009. The fire occurred in a griddle and was the result of leaking natural gas in the temperature control valve. The Denton Fire Department was dispatched. Investigation revealed that a similar small fire had occurred in the appliance earlier in the day and had been extinguished by the cafeteria staff but not reported to the University safety office or maintenance. Damage was limited to the appliance. The alarm system and the fixed suppression over the appliance did not operate because of the small nature of the ignition.
The University of Texas at Arlington reported a fire in the Garden Club Apartments on March 3, 2009. The fire started in a residential unit kitchen range. The occupants were using the broiler unit of the range for storage of paper and plastic material and did not remove them before preheating the oven. The oven ignited the stored items and the resulting fire spread to the adjacent wall and cabinets. Damage to the apartment was estimated at $3000. There was no sprinkler system present. The detection and alarm system worked as designed. The Arlington Fire Department responded.
The University of North Texas reported a fire in the Chemistry Building Laboratory on February 25, 2009. The fire resulted from a vacuum pump that was placed next to foam padding on a closed shelf and then run continuously. The heat of the pump motor ignited the foam. The sprinkler system activated and controlled the fire. The Denton Fire Department responded. Damage to the lab was estimated at $100,000.
TexasA&MUniversity at College Station reported a fire in a lounge and laundry residential support building on February 23, 2009. The fire was set in an upholstered chair in the lounge area. The fire alarm was activated and the College Station Fire Department responded. Damage was limited to the chair and minor damage to the carpeting.
The University of Texas at Arlington reported a fire in the Garden Club Apartments on February 1, 2009. The fire was in a living unit kitchen and was started by a student spraying bug spray under the kitchen range which was ignited by the oven's pilot light. Damage was limited to the range and adjacent floor tile. There was no sprinkler system present. The detection system did not activate due to the small nature of the ignition. The Arlington Fire Department responded.
On January 23, 2009, the University of Houston reported a fire at the Cullen Oaks Apartments student housing. The fire resulted from unattended cooking. The smoke detection system functioned as designed, resulting in a general alarm and the sprinkler system activated, extinguishing the fire. Damage was confined to the kitchen area and water damage.
Sam Houston State University had a room fire in the University Hotel on December 15, 2008. The fire originated in the room's individual air handling unit. The detector activated and the alarm sounded. The building was evacuated. The automatic sprinkler system did not activate, as the fire was too small. The Huntsville Fire Department extinguished the fire with a portable fire extinguisher.
A fire was reported at the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services' San Angelo State School on November 26, 2008. The fire was discovered in a bedroom of a two story dormitory. The client had started a fire in a mattresses using a cigarette lighter. The fire did minor damage to the mattress and sent smoke throughout the dorm. There were no injuries. The fire detection and alarm system sounded the alarm and the building was evacuated. Local fire departments responded.
On November 18, 2008, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice reported a fire at the Estelle Unit in a cotton storage warehouse. The cotton was stored for use by the prison industries textile operations. The building and contents were a total loss; the cotton was valued at $700,000. The cause was undetermined.
On October 10, 2008, on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington, a fire occurred in the Baker Chemistry Research Building during the distillation process of 2-butanol in a fume hood. Neither the fire alarm nor the sprinkler system was activated. Arlington Fire Department responded. One researcher was transported to the hospital with minor cuts and kept over night.
On September 15, 2008, a fire was reported at the University of North Texas, in the Clark Grill. A grease fire on the grill activated the fire protection system and alarm system. The Clark Grill and adjacent dorm were evacuated. The fire was extinguished by the system. The damage was minimal and was cleaned up, and the fire protection system was restored to service.
State Agency and University Fires Reported: State owned and leased facilities FY 2008
The Texas Youth Commission had a fire set at the Joe Evins Unit in Edinburg on August 3, 2008. The fire occurred when a juvenile inmate set a blanket on fire and then moved the blanket to a mattress, which was filmed by a surveillance camera. The fire detection and alarm system operated and the unit was evacuated. Minor smoke and heat damage was reported. The Edinburg fire department was not called.
On June 14, 2008, Angelo State School-Texas Department of Aging and Disability had a fire in a residential building. A client started a fire in the window curtains of her room using a cigarette lighter. The smoke detector detected the fire and the alarm was sounded. Staff responded and stamped out the curtain fire and the room was re-occupied. No permanent damage was sustained.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice reported a fire at the Boyd Unit on May 30, 2008. The fire was in the Unit Clubhouse used for employee social events and training. The building was totally destroyed and the fire's cause could not be determined due to the damage. The fire was discovered at 2:08 am. The building was not occupied at the time of the fire.
Texas Woman’s University had a fire on April 14, 2008. The fire occurred in the Golf Course Maintenance Building The building was a total loss and included 40 golf carts. Cause of the fire remains undetermined due to the extensive damage.
Texas Tech University had a fire on April 16, 2008. The fire occurred in the Maedgen Theater. An unknown person set fire in a woman’s restroom trash container. This was the third fire in a year in this facility. Damage was contained to the trash can. The building was equipped with fire detection and automatic fire sprinklers. The fire was too small to activate either system.
The Preservation Board had a fire at the Governor's Mansion on June 8, 2008. The fire was incendiary. The mansion was unoccupied at the time and undergoing major restoration. The investigation is continuing.
A fire occurred at the Cullen Oaks Apartments on the University of Houston campus on March 29, 2008. The fire was set in a chair in a second floor student lounge. The fire detection and alarm system sounded and the sprinkler system activated, extinguishing the fire. The area received minor smoke and fire damage. The building was evacuated and the Houston Fire Department responded.
Department of Aging and Disability Services, Denton State School, reported a fire ignition on February 18, 2008. The fire occurred in a housing unit where a client using a stolen cigarette lighter ignited bedding. The fire was immediately discovered by staff and extinguished. The fire was too small to activate the detection or sprinkler system. The bedding was changed and the client returned to the room.
A fire occurred at the University of Texas-Austin married student housing complex on January 24, 2008. The fire was cooking related. The resident left food on the cooking range and left the apartment. The food caught fire and smoke was detected by the apartment smoke alarm. UT Police Department and Austin Fire Department responded. The damage was contained to the cooking appliance.
Texas A&M University-Commerce had a fire in the Sam Rayburn Memorial Student Center on January 17, 2008. The fire started in an electrical panel in the boiler room when a leg of a three phase power supply shorted out. Smoke detection alerted the building occupants, who evacuated. The fire department stood by until electrical service was shut off and provided smoke removal. Damage was limited to the electrical panel.
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, Mexia State School had a fire on January 7, 2008, in a health care residential unit. A client had set paper on fire, which spread to piping insulation. The fire was too small to activate the sprinkler system. The detection and alarm system did activate and the building was evacuated without injury. The campus fire brigade extinguished the fire and the building was restored to operation.
The University of Texas at Austin had a fire ignition on December 28, 2007. The fire was in a construction project; an addition to the University power plant. Welders ignited waterproofing/insulation material and portions of wooden concrete form work on the chilling station. The Austin Fire Department was dispatched and extinguished the small fire. Damage was estimated at $3000. Construction work resumed immediately after the incident.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Ferguson Detention Unit had a fire ignition in the warehouse of the unit's mop and broom factory on December 21, 2007. The fire was discovered at 8 pm after the factory was closed for the day. The fire was a smoldering fire in the mop and broom manufacturing supplies area and was determined to be of unknown ignition cause. There was minimal structural damage and the building was restored to use.
Texas A&M University-College Station had a fire in a business building on December 14, 2007, 7:20 pm. The fire was incendiary and caused by a person lighting paper on fire in a hallway. The fire was extinguished by a building occupant. The fire department and campus police responded. The fire caused little damage.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi had a fire in the Laguna Residence Hall on December 6, 2007. The fire occurred in the kitchen area and involved unattended cooking oil in a pan on the stove in an apartment. The fire was extinguished by the automatic sprinkler system. The sprinkler system and alarm system operated as designed. Damage was contained to the cooking area of the kitchen.
Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services; Denton State School. Three separate fire ignitions occurred on the campus in unoccupied buildings. The first fire occurred on October 10, 2007, in a green house. The greenhouse had been out of operation and was being rehabilitated for use. The fire ignited a wooden desk and stored cardboard. The second fire occurred on October 11, 2007, in a small metal storage building. No utilities were connected to the building. The doors had been forced open and boxes of stored records were ignited. The third fire occurred on November 15, 2007, in a wood frame storage building with no utilities. The building was consumed. The building was used for storage of decorations and other materials used in the gym for theatrical productions. All three fires were declared incendiary and a resident was identified as the suspect. The resident was removed from Denton State School and transferred to a more secure facility.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division Office building fire on September 19, 2007. The building was set on fire in the early morning hours by suspects unknown. Several offices were doused with flammable liquids. The investigation is continuing. Building has been closed for repair. Temporary offices have been relocated. No deaths or injuries resulted from the fire.
Department of Aging and Disability Angelo State School in Carlsbad residential building fire on September 11, 2007. Patient set fire in personal property in client room. Fire immediately extinguished with damage only to client property. No automatic sprinkler system. Fire detection and alarm operated as designed.
University of Houston Moody Tower Commons Building Cafeteria cooking equipment on September 10, 2007. Cooking fire on grill from grease accumulation. Fire protection in vent hood operated. Fire extinguished by fire and security staff. Damage limited to grill and clean up. Houston Fire Department responded. Sprinkler system did not operate due to low heat buildup. Fire detection and alarm operated as designed.
Fire Safety Notices
University Campus Liquid Nitrogen Cylinder Explosion
In 2006, a compressed gas cylinder exploded in a state university campus laboratory. The explosion was attributed to dangerous alterations that had been made to the cylinder. The State Fire Marshal wants to inform Texas universities how they can help prevent similar gas cylinder-related incidents.
Natural Gas Safety Directive Issued to State Agencies and Universities
The State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) has sent an official notice to Texas state agencies and universities ordering that they take immediate steps to insure that natural gas piping systems that they own or control are properly maintained. The directive issued by State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado provides a comprehensive guide for officials to follow based on state and federal law as well as national safety standards covering installation, maintenance, inspection and testing of gas piping systems. The SFMO Directive is available online at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/general/pdf/fmgasdirectiv.pdf.
State Fire Marshal's Office Issues Bars, Nightclubs and Dance Halls Fire Safety Evaluation Report
In the summer of 2004, the State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) conducted fire safety inspections of bars, nightclubs, lounges and dancehalls in eight Texas counties after studying the fire safety violations contributing to the tragic, 100-death February 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island and observing similar, recurring hazards during a county-wide inspection of bars and clubs in a Gulf Coast county in fall 2003. Of the 189 establishments inspected, 182 had means of egress violations.
A fire-related catastrophe could strike a Texas nightclub. The SFMO's Fire Safety Evaluation Report of Bars, Nightclubs and Dance Halls, and other related information and resources, is available on-line.
Off-Campus Organization Inspection Verification Program
Recent fire-related tragedies involving off-campus fraternity and sorority facilities has prompted state and local leadership to intensify their focus on the safety of those individuals living in, or using, those facilities. The State Fire Marshal's Office, in cooperation with the universities, determined that an enhanced focus on annual fire safety inspections was an important component of a safe off-campus environment.
The State Fire Marshal's Office maintains a registry of fire safety inspections for university-affiliated, off-campus facilities. We encourage all fraternities, sororities, and other off-campus groups to have annual fire safety inspections of their facilities and to report the inspections to the State Fire Marshal on the attached form.
Many universities are requiring the inspections as a part of the organization recognition process and failure to have a current fire safety inspection may affect the good standing of the organization with the university. Please contact the your university's Dean of Student's Office (or other appropriate organization liaison) to determine what you university requires in this area.
Instructions for participation:
Request a fire safety inspection from the local fire marshal having jurisdiction. (Most fire departments conduct inspections but need advance notice to schedule an appointment. If the local fire department does not conduct inspections you may request an inspection from the State Fire Marshal's Inspection Services Division at the address located on the verification form.)
Upon completion of the inspection, record the requested information on the attached form. Submit the completed form to the State Fire Marshal's Office. (The form can be mailed, faxed or E-mailed.)
Your organization's host university will receive notification that the inspection was conducted and acknowledgement of your organization's compliance will be posted on the State Fire Marshal's Internet site.
Off-Campus Organization Inspection Verification Form
Off-Campus Organization Inspection Verification Form
in PDF format. - Off-campus organizations can now fill in the organization information and inspection information sections online before printing the form out and submitting it to the inspector for date and signature. The form can not be submitted online.
Living With Fire is a program for campus and student fire safety developed to provide campus fire safety professionals with material that is targeted at students. The material at the Living With Fire Web site is a "toolbox" that fire safety educators can use in assembling their own programs. Some of it is new, created solely for this project. Other material was contributed by campus fire safety professionals in an effort to share what works for them with their peers across the country. This material is in the public domain and can be used freely. Available resources include lesson plans, Powerpoint presentations, photo library and promotional materials.
Foster Family Homes and Group Day-Care Homes Self Evaluation Checklists
These checklists are provided to assist the foster family home operator and group day care home operator in maintaining a fire safe environment. The checklists are based on the requirements of the State Fire Marshal rule for fire safety inspection as adopted from the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code 101; 2006 edition. Local building and fire codes may differ in the requirements.
Use of this checklist by the owner does not substitute for a professional fire safety inspection by the local authority where one is available.
Additional fire safety information is provided for your use. Please down load the appropriate self evaluation and additional information. Read all information and instructions and perform the evaluation.
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