December 2, 2008 - Three Alarm Apartment Fire Displaces Thirteen Families

Heavy smoke and flames for more than five hours

The Quail Creek Apartment complex was the scene of a Three-Alarm fire that kept more than 60 Shreveport firefighters and paramedics busy battling heavy smoke and flames for more than five hours. The early morning blaze ravaged through at least 13 apartments leaving those homeowners displaced. No injuries were reported.

Shreveport Firefighters were dispatched at 4:27 a.m. and arrived on scene at 4:33 a.m., and located a fire in the ceiling of a first level apartment. At 05:11 a.m., Battalion Chief Mitch O’Neal, the on-scene Incident Commander, upgraded the incident to a second alarm requesting additional manpower and equipment. The fire erupted and spread so quickly that Fire Chief Brian Crawford determined the situation required additional manpower and he upgraded the situation to a third alarm by 05:51 a.m. “It was our goal to make sure we had adequate on-scene manpower available and to make sure no lives were lost,” said Chief Crawford.

The incident required the use of 15 fire engines, 5 ladder trucks, 2 heavy rescue trucks, 3 battalion chiefs and 2 medic units; the flames were under control by 09:43 a.m.

Fire Investigator Rodney Murray determined that the fire originated near the heating unit in the ceiling of apartment building 7-I. According to Murray, “Occupants of apartment 7-I saw flames coming from the heating unit and unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the fire with a dry chemical extinguisher.”

“This apartment complex was built under previous fire codes that did not require the building to have fire stops in the walls or fire and smoke barriers in the attic to prevent fire spread. Additionally, there would have been less damage had this apartment building been equipped with an automatic sprinkler system. I will request that local and state legislature require installation of sprinkler systems in all apartment buildings for the following reasons,” said Fire Chief Brian Crawford.

•The chances of dying in a fire are reduced by one-half to three-fourths when automatic sprinklers are installed. Four of the six fire deaths this year could have been prevented if the apartments had sprinkler systems.

•Sprinklers working in conjunction with smoke alarms could reduce fire deaths by eighty-two percent.

•Sprinkler systems are highly reliable and operate in ninety-three percent of all fires that are large enough to activate the system.

•The International Code Council (ICC) recommends the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems for all new one and two-family homes and townhouses.

Shreveport Fire Department and Summer Grove are partnering to assist those families displaced by the Quai Creek Fire. Fire Chief Brian Crawford is asking that caring citizens and outreach organizations help these thirteen families who have lost clothing, furniture and other personal necessities. All donations including monetary donations can be dropped off at the number two entrance of Summer Grove Baptist Church.