Harris County Fire Marshal Office News

With temperatures across Harris County expected to fall below freezing this weekend, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office encourages everyone to practice heating safety. Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths but can be prevented by following a few fire safety precautions. “Harris County is expected to experience a very cold air mass in the next few days, with temperatures below freezing for extended periods of time,” said Harris County Fire Mars...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office coordinated an innovative medication mail-in program via the University of Houston, local fire departments, and Harris County Commissioner's Offices. The goal of this program is to encourage the proper disposal of prescription medication, limit the availability of high-risk prescription medications in homes, and reduce accidental poisonings and overdoses. "This program allows community members to safely mail in unused or expired medications for proper dis...

Fireworks are beautiful but are very dangerous if not used properly. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office encourages anyone who chooses to use consumer fireworks to practice fireworks safety or find alternative ways to celebrate. “Fireworks safety is paramount as we continue to battle COVID-19,” said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. “If you choose to use consumer fireworks, please read the cautionary labels and dispose of your fireworks properly. Doct...

Fireworks are beautiful but are very dangerous if not used properly. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office encourages anyone who chooses to use consumer fireworks to practice fireworks safety or find alternative ways to celebrate. “Fireworks safety is paramount as we continue to battle COVID-19,” said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. “If you choose to use consumer fireworks, please read the cautionary labels and dispose of your fireworks...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office wants everyone to practice fire safety when decorating this holiday season. Candles, holiday decorations, and Christmas trees are not only beautiful, fun, and part of the holiday season, but they also increase one's fire risk. "As you and your family prepare for this joyous time of year, we ask that you also think about fire safety," said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. "By following a few fire safety precautions, like ensuring decoratio...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office wants everyone to practice fire safety when decorating this holiday season. Candles, holiday decorations, and Christmas trees are not only beautiful, fun, and part of the holiday season, but they also increase fire risk. "As you and your family prepare for this joyous time of year, we ask that you also think about fire safety," said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. "By following a few fire safety precautions, like ensuring decorations are...

A one-alarm fire at a northwest Houston hotel forced guests to evacuate early Saturday morning, according to the Cy-Fair Fire Department. At approximately 4:40 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to a Holiday Inn Express hotel located in the 9100 block of West Road on reports of a fire. On arrival, crews observed fire and smoke visible from a third-story unit. Sustaining smoke damage Firefighters attacked the blaze and extinguished it quickly, said Captain Daniel Arizpe, a public information off...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office partnered with Harris County Precinct 4 Office of Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, H-E-B, and H-E-B Tomball Market #574 to encourage turkey frying safety. "HCFMO encourages everyone to keep an eye on what you fry," said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. "Frying a turkey might be a family tradition, but it can be very dangerous. One misstep can cause a dangerous fire to occur." “Thanksgiving is a day for counting our blessings and apprecia...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office (HCFMO) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, ‘Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!” Cooking, Key cause of home fires The campaign works to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.   According to the NFPA, co...

Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen received the Fire Protection Person of the Year Award from the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). The Fire Protection Person of the Year Award was created in 1973 to recognize significant achievements in the protection of humanity and the environment from the ravages of unwanted fire and an outstanding contribution to fire protection from outside the membership of SFPE which is broad in scope and has apparent lasting effects. Specifical...

Fireworks are synonymous with the Fourth of July. They are beautiful, but can also be very dangerous if not used properly. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office not only encourages residents to attend professional fireworks displays and practice fireworks safety but also practice social distancing and wear masks. “Professional fireworks displays are a great way for residents to safely enjoy fireworks, but with the spread of COVID-19 we are also encouraging everyone to practice soc...

Harris County Fire Marshal's Office is proud to announce Captain Scott Schoonover has completed and graduated from Leadership Command College of the Law Enforcement Management Institue of Texas (LEMIT). "Captain Schoonover is the first fire marshal to graduate from Leadership Command College. I am proud of the work Captain Schoonover completed to join this elite group of graduates," said Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. "Obtaining continuing education and leadership skills are incredibly val...

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office (HCFMO) has announced that their Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Response Team will begin pre-incident planning in March 2020, in compliance with NFPA 1620: Standard for Pre-Incident Planning. Funding from the Harris County Commissioners Court, to support additional HazMat team staffing, has allowed the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office to develop and pursue this progressive avenue of pre-incident planning of businesses and facilities in the unincorporated...

Fireworks are fun and beautiful, but can also be very dangerous. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office encourages residents to attend professional fireworks displays and practice fireworks safety. “Professional fireworks displays are a great way for residents to safely enjoy fireworks and ring in the new year,” said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. “If you choose to use consumer fireworks, please read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions....

Thanksgiving day is the peak day for home cooking fires. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office encourages everyone to practice fire safety this Thanksgiving holiday."Unattended cooking is the leading contributing factor in cooking fires and fire deaths in the United States," said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. "In order to have a fire-safe and fun Thanksgiving, HCFMO encourages everyone to stay in the kitchen while cooking and keep an eye on what you fry. These fire safety t...