Fire Statistics
The purpose of this report is to document all fires that occurred on the properties owned, occupied or leased by Sam Houston State University This report is in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315).
05/05/2021, 21-6379, 12:40 PM
Details: An officer was dispatched to Jackson-Shaver Hall, located at 1201 17th Street, in reference to a fire alarm. Upon arrival, the officer was directed to the residence in question. During the investigation, the officer determined that a candle fell from a ledge in the bathroom landing on a bathroom rug causing a fire. The fire was extinguished by the resident causing minimal damage.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Less than $500.00
Cause of Fire: Use of Candle
01/21/2020, 20-1707, 06:15 PM
Details: An officer was dispatched to Houston House, located at 1661 Avenue J, in reference to a reported fire. Upon arrival, officer observed smoke in the building and a smell of burning. The officer was directed to the laundry room where a dryer had caught fire. Upon inspection, the dryer was hot to the touch, there was smoke coming from within, but no visible signs of fire. The Huntsville Fire Department arrived, set up ventilation, and inspected the rest of the building for fire hazards.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Less than $1,000.00
Cause of Fire: Electrical short in switch located in exhaust duct.
03/04/2019, 19-2317, 08:26 PM
Details: An officer responded to the Criminal Justice Center (816 17th Street) in reference to an active fire alarm. Upon arrival, the officer noted the odor of an electrical burning. The Huntsville Fire Department also responded to the scene and located an exhaust fan motor had malfunctioned causing it to burn out. The fire department confirmed that there was no other fire within the HVAC system.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 1000+
Cause of Fire: Malfunction of HVAC exhaust fan motor
10/18/2019, 1900011229, 06:15 PM
Details: On October 18, 2019 at 5:15 PM, an officer responded to Piney Woods Hall (2120 Avenue I) in reference to a smoke alarm call. Upon arrival to the alarm location on the 5th floor of the building, officer met with resident assistants who reported a food burning in a microwave which caused smoke.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: <$500 Replacement of Microwave
Cause of Fire: Cooking in Microwave
08/10/2018, 18-9189, 12:14 PM
Details: Fire - An officer was dispatched to Pritchett Field, located at 1721 Avenue O, in reference to a Vehicle Fire. Upon arrival, a golf cart was found fully engulfed on the east side of the soccer field. The Huntsville Fire Department arrived moments later and extinguished the fire. The golf cart was a complete loss and there were minor damages to the playing field surface (turf).
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 5000+
Cause of Fire: Battery/Electrical
05/05/2018, 18-5999, 03:20 PM
Details: Fire - An officer was dispatched to the Criminal Justice Center (816 17th Street) in reference to a report of a fire alarm. Upon arrival, the officer could detect a burning odor. Upon further inspection of the building, a hazy smoke was located on the west side of the building on the second floor. The Huntsville Fire Department and Facilities Management responded to the location. The Huntsville Fire Department determined the location of the fire to be in a A/C ventilation duct where a heating element was located. The smoldering unit was extinguished and repairs to the building ceiling were begun.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 1000+
Cause of Fire: Malfunction of HVAC heating element in ventilation duct.
04/30/2016, 16-6675, 06:17 PM
Details: Fire, 5:17 PM: An officer was dispatched to Bearkat Village (2400 Montgomery Road) in reference to a report of smoke coming from a residence and a fire alarm pull station being activated. Upon arrival, the officer used a fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire in the living room area. The Huntsville Fire Department also responded to this location. The fire was caused by a hoverboard that was charging. No injuries were reported and on minor damage was noted.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Minimal
Cause of Fire: Hoverboard charging malfunction
09/01/2016, 16-11970, 12:06 PM
Details: Fire - Officers were dispatched to the Lee Drain Building (1900 Avenue I) in reference to subjects being stuck in an elevator. Upon arrival, the officer observed that the building had an active fire alarm for the elevator mechanical room. Upon checking the door to the elevator room, the officer noted the presence of heavy smoke. The Huntsville Fire Department was contacted and arrived a short time later. The individuals on the elevator were removed and the building was evacuated. The cause of the smoke was due to a fire in the elevator mechanical room on an electrical panel. The building was vented, and after air quality test the building was reopened for normal operations at 12:30 PM.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Unknown
Cause of Fire: Electrical Panel Malfunction
01/29/2016, 16-1422, 03:33 AM
Details: Fire: An officer was dispatched to Academic Building IV, located at 1921 Avenue J, in reference to a fire. The officer observed a contained fire near the east side of the Olson Auditorium (in a landscape area) that appeared to have been started by a discarded cigarette. The fire was extinguished and a report was filed.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 0
Cause of Fire: Discarded cigarette
09/21/2015, 15-17575, 05:37 AM
Details: Fire: At 4:37 PM, an officer was sent to Lonestar Hall (910 Bearkat Boulevard) in reference to a Fire in the lobby kitchen. The cause of the small fire was determined to be caused by a student who was attempting to cook the common kitchen area on the first floor. The fire only caused smoke and minor damage. An incident report was completed.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Unknown
Cause of Fire: Cooking
10/17/2014, 14-15333, 12:23 AM
Details: Officers were dispatched to Lonestar Hall, located at 910 Bearkat Boulevard, in reference to an active supervisory fire alarm inside one of the dorm rooms located on the 3rd floor. Officers arrived and found the dorm room in question unoccupied and full of heavy smoke. Due to the amount of smoke inside the room and not knowing the source of the smoke all residents were evacuated for their safety. The Huntsville Fire Department, SHSU Risk Management, Residence Life Maintenance, Residence Life Alarm Maintenance and the Residence Hall Director were summoned to the scene. It was later determined that the water heater electrical panel had shorted out causing a small electrical fire. Once the Huntsville Fire Department, SHSU Risk Management, Residence Life Maintenance, Residence Life Alarm Maintenance and the Residence Hall Director deemed the building safe to be occupied by residents they were allowed to return to their rooms.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Unknown
Cause of Fire: An electrical panel shorted out on a water heater causing a small electrical fire.
10/14/2014, 14-15119, 11:43 AM
Details: Fire - An officer was dispatched to the CHSS Building (1901 Avenue I) in reference to a report of a small fire in a men's restroom trash can located on the second floor of the building. The cause of the fire was not determined and the incident has been referred to the Office of Risk Management for further review. A report was completed in reference to this incident.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 0
Cause of Fire: Possible cigarette thrown into trashcan.
06/04/2014, 01:21 AM
Details: A fire alarm was received from White Hall and when Officers arrived on scene they observed smoke on the first floor of the south side of the building. Contact was made with the Hall Director to determine if there were any residents in White Hall at the time. According to the Hall Director, there were two residents and Officers made sure that those residents were evacuated. The Huntsville Fire Department arrived on scene and they determined that the fire was extinguished and did not spread to any other portion of the building. The cause of the heavy smoke appears to have come from an emergency lighting fixture that caught fire and melted. Physical Plant, Alarm Maintenance, and the University Safety Officer were notified of the fire and all of them responded to White Hall to assess the situation and make repairs needed for the remainder of the night.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Unknown
Cause of Fire: Emergency Lighting unit melted or caught fire. Fire did not spread to any other portion of building.
08/28/2014, 14-12131, 05:10 PM
Details: At 4:10 PM, an officer was dispatched to Elliot Hall, located at 1006 17th Street, in reference to active Fire Panel Alarm. Upon arrival, the officer discovered that an unknown person attempted to re-heat food in an aluminum take-out container in the microwave located in the laundry room. This action caused the container to burn triggering the fire alarm. The laundry room was ventilated and there was no further signs of danger to the residents with them being allowed back into the dormitory.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 325 (Replace Microwave)
Cause of Fire: Improper use of a microwave by unknown individual.
06/04/2014, 14-8210, 01:21 AM
Details: A fire alarm was received from White Hall and when Officers arrived on scene they observed smoke on the first floor of the south side of the building. Contact was made with the Hall Director to determine if there were any residents in White Hall at the time. According to the Hall Director, there were two residents and Officers made sure that those residents were evacuated. The Huntsville Fire Department arrived on scene and they determined that the fire was extinguished and did not spread to any other portion of the building. The cause of the heavy smoke appears to have come from an emergency lighting fixture that caught fire and melted. Physical Plant, Alarm Maintenance, and the University Safety Officer were notified of the fire and all of them responded to White Hall to assess the situation and make repairs needed for the remainder of the night.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Unknown
Cause of Fire: re: Emergency Lighting unit melted or caught fire. Fire did not spread to any other portion of building.
09/05/2014, 14-12611, 01:23 AM
Details: Fire: At 12:23 PM, an officer was dispatched to the Raven Village Complex, located at 2133 Avenue I, in reference to an active fire alarm. Upon arrival, the Officer learned a resident had attempted to cook food in the microwave inside a dorm room, which caused a small fire. The fire was extinguished by the student and Resident Advisor with residents being allowed to return to their rooms after the scene was secured. A report was filed.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 325 (Replace Microwave)
Cause of Fire: Improper use of microwave by a student in a residence.
11/11/2013, 13-17159, 09:48 PM
Details: Fire - Officer was dispatched to Raven Village, located at 2133 Avenue I, in reference to a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, the officer observed a silver 4-door passenger vehicle with light smoke coming from it. Upon making contact with the owner he stated he attempted to start his vehicle and observed flames from the driver’s air vent. At that time he extinguished the fire with a nearby fire extinguisher from Raven Village. The Huntsville Fire Department was already dispatched and arrived on scene. Additionally, the university safety coordinator was notified of the incident as well. A report was filed.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Unknown (not a university vehicle)
Cause of Fire: Unknown (non-university property/private).
10/28/2013, 13-16296, 08:06 PM
Details: An officer was dispatched to Raven Nest Golf Course (457 IH-45 South) at 7:06 PM in reference to a report of a small fire. Upon arrival, a small fire was located that had been put out. It appears from the evidence at the scene that a cigarette was tossed onto a pile of cardboard igniting it. No actual building damages were noted (13-16296).
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 0
Cause of Fire: Cigarette thrown onto cardboard pile.
10/19/2013, 13-15671, 10:44 AM
Details: An officer responded to the University Hotel (1640 Bobby K Marks) in reference to a report of smoke. Upon arrival, the officer located smoke on the fourth floor of the building. An air handler was found to be operating with a smoldering substance. The Huntsville Fire Department and university maintenance staff responded and there appeared to be no damage to personal or private property (13-15671).
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 0
Cause of Fire: Air handler malfunction.
09/04/2013, 13-12579, 12:57 AM
Details: An officer was dispatched to the 900 block of Bowers Boulevard (university parking area) in reference to a report of a vehicle fire. Upon arrival, officer retrieved a fire extinguisher from a nearby residence hall and extinguished the flames. The Huntsville Fire Department also arrived on scene to extinguish the flames.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: Unknown
Cause of Fire: Located in engine compartment, unknown.
05/08/2013, 10:43 AM
Details: An officer responded to 1600 Avenue I (Rachael Jackson Hall) at 9:43 AM in reference to smoke coming from a dryer vent. Upon inspection, it was determined that a female university student was drying a pair of boots in the dryer. The boots rubber soles melted causing the dryer to overheat. Inspection by maintenance personnel indicated that there was no damage to the dryer and further stated that the debris from the boots caused the smoke in the dryer (137048).
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 0
Cause of Fire: No actual fire, drying boots in dryer at high temperature.
01/29/2013, 10:04 AM
Details: Officers were dispatched to the Smith-Hutson Building (1821 Avenue I) at 10:04 AM in reference to a report of a fire. Upon arrival, an officer noted smoke on the floor of the the building and met with a university electrician who reported that an elevator motor had burned up. The building was evacuated and members of the Huntsville Fire Department arrived and confirmed the situation. The building was reopened at 12:15 PM for normal operations.
Number Of Deaths: 0
Number Of Injuries: 0
Value of Property: 2000.00
Cause of Fire: Unknown