The Amarillo Fire Department (AFD) reported it had a busy weekend, with crews responding to six structure fires and one resulting in a victim being flown to Lubbock after suffering burns while cooking, according to AFD news releases.
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At 5:30 p.m. Friday, Amarillo fire crews responded to a structure fire at 713 N. Mirror. The first unit to arrive early Friday evening found the homeowner waving at the side of the house, who notified them of a small fire in a back garage. Firefighters then located a small rubbish fire and extinguished it with a water pump can.
The homeowner stated he witnessed someone leaving through the alley when he arrived. The Amarillo Police Department took a report, and the Amarillo Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire.
At 10:18 a.m. Saturday, AFD was dispatched to the 1100 block of Parr Street on a fire. Engine 8 arrived to find a single family residential structure with heavy smoke showing from the eaves and all attic vents.
Fire crews made entry and encountered heavy smoke with no visibility. After conducting a primary search, firefighters began pulling parts of the ceiling and located an active fire in the attic.
Fire crews extinguished the fire and checked for hot spots and removed some debris from the dwelling. There were no injuries. This fire has been ruled accidental.
The Amarillo Fire Department recommends homeowners and occupants to install a smoke detector in the attic of their homes. This allows much quicker notification of smoke conditions in the attic of the structure.
Amarillo firefighters responded to a fire in the 3000 block of NE 27th Avenue on Saturday just after 5 p.m. The first unit arrived to find light smoke showing out the open front door and a fire in the kitchen that was out.
AFD said an occupant was burned while cooking when a flash fire occurred in a skillet. The victim, a 71-year-old woman, was flown to the burn center in Lubbock for treatment of smoke inhalation injuries.
This Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled this fire accidental.
The Amarillo Fire Department recommends having a fire extinguisher available while cooking.
Amarillo firefighters were called to the 1500 block of SE 6th Avenue on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
The first unit to arrive was alerted by the occupant to where the fire was located. Fire crews made entry and found the fire in the kitchen area.
Firefighters were able to put it out quickly and conduct a search to clear the home.
There were no injuries. This fire is believed to have started in the oven.
Amarillo fire crews were dispatched to a fire in the 1600 block of NW 14th on Sunday afternoon. When units arrived at about 2:50 p.m., they noticed a light amount of white smoke coming from the side of a residential structure.
Fire crews made entry and found a small fire in the attic space. Firefighters had to remove some of the ceiling drywall in order to access and fully extinguish the fire.
Crew members stayed behind and helped clean the inside for the occupants as well as remove personal items.
There were no injuries. The Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted and is currently investigating the cause of the fire.
AFD responded to a fire call in the 3100 block of North Cleveland Monday morning around 6:30 a.m. Upon arrival, crews found a residential home with smoke and fire coming from the attic vent.
Firefighters forced open the front door and were able to contain the fire to the attic of the home.
The occupants were not home at the time of the fire.
The cause is still under investigation. One firefighter suffered a sprained wrist battling the fire and was taken in for a routine evaluation.
Six units and 18 firefighters responded to the scene for each of the fires, and no estimated damages were available.