August 23, 2010
July 2010 Fireworks Report
The weather once again played a role during the July fireworks season for Harris
County. Hurricane Alex entered the Gulf of Mexico at the start of the sales season.
Alex made landfall south of Texas but the rainfall it produced made for a very wet
season. This season’s conditions were very different from the July 2009 season;
as a result, the number of fires dropped from 130 fires in 2009 to 13 fires in 2010.
For more information, please download the
2010 Fireworks Report.
August 1, 2010
This Month in Fire History
On August 11, 1874, Henry S. Parmelee from Connecticut obtained a patent for the
sprinkler head, today referred to more simply as a sprinkler. A British inventor,
A. S. Harrison, had invented the first fully automatic extinguishing device in 1864
but he abandoned the work and did not seek a patent because he could not establish
any interest in the British business community. Problems with earlier systems were
that when activated, any use of the system would flood the entire structure and
all its contents. Parmelee invented a sprinkler head that only activated one at
a time, after which, sprinkler systems became very popular. The design involved
a perforated head containing a valve that was held closed against water pressure
by a heavy spring made of low-fusing material. The system operated by means of a
valve attached to cords and fuses. When the cords and fuses melted, the valve opened
releasing a stream of water. His system even included an audible alarm. Parmelee
later made arrangements with the Providence Steam & Gas Company to install his systems.
From 1878 to 1882, some 200,000 Parmelee sprinklers were installed in mills mostly
located throughout New England. Providence Steam & Gas was owned by Frederic Grinnell
of Providence, Rhode Island. The first Grinnell sprinkler was invented in 1882 and
Grinnell systems continued to flourish and became widely recognized even to this
day.
July 14, 2010
New Office Hours
Effective Monday, July 16th, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office will reduce
administrative office hours. The new office hours will be 7:30 AM-4:30 PM, Monday
– Thursday and open during lunch hours. On Friday, hours will be 8 AM-Noon. All
Administrative services will close at Noon on Fridays. The reduced
schedule is part of an ongoing effort to control costs while providing the best
possible customer service.
July 1, 2010
This Month in Fire History
The Hartford Circus Fire occurred on July 6, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut and
was one of the nation’s worst fire disasters. The fire occurred during an afternoon
performance of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus attended by approximately
8,000 people. More than 100 people were killed and 600 were injured. The great irony
was that the performance took place under canvas. According to eyewitness survivors,
the fiery tent collapsed in about eight minutes trapping hundreds of spectators
beneath it. Had the crowd realized it, safety was no farther away than ducking out
under the sidewalls of the tent.
more...
June 14, 2010
Fire Marshal’s ISO Report Now Available
The HCFMO 2007-2009 report details information about fire inspections, fire investigations
and emergency response activities not routinely provided by local fire departments.
Since 2005, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office has assisted local fire departments
by collecting and providing such information. Fire departments or Emergency Service
Districts include this information with their application for a revised Insurance
Services Organization (ISO) protection rating. The ISO rating is used by many insurance
companies to determine an area’s level of fire risk, fire protection and influence
on insurance premiums. You may download the
2010 ISO report at no cost. Upon written request, printed copies are available
for $14.00 each to cover reproduction expenses..
May 4, 2010
ESD Election Notices
Harris County Fire Marshal's Office has received these ESD election notices and
is posting them as a public service. Click here
for more information.
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