Mulch Fire in The Carverdale Area Contained; US Fire Pump Company to Handle Extinguishing, $2 Million in Property Saved

A mulch fire erupted in the Carverdale area at 5802 Crawford, 77041, and was promptly dispatched by the Houston Fire Department (HFD) on August 13, 2023, at 2:21 p.m. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident, and an estimated $2,000,000 worth of property was saved. The cause of the fire has been identified as an act of nature, specifically wind-driven, which ignited the equipment.

HFD arrived on the scene within six minutes and initially contained the fire over the course of an hour. However, unexpected wind changes led to a surge in fire intensity and a spread towards a nearby warehouse. Through diligent work, HFD managed to protect the warehouse and contain the mulch fire.

24 units with 53 personnel, including crews from various local stations and the Cy-Fair Fire Department, contributed to the overnight containment efforts. This morning, August 14, the operation was turned over to US Fire Pump, a private fire protection company, who will continue to extinguish the fire over the coming week.

This is the second reported mulch fire this year at this location, the previous one having occurred in February 2023 and causing about $600,000 in estimated damage.

The Houston Health Department is monitoring the air quality in the area, and as a precaution, any person prone to respiratory problems may want to remain indoors or cover with a mask when outside near the area. The success of this operation underscores the readiness and commitment of local emergency services to keep the community safe.