Closed door slowed house fire

Coppell—The Coppell Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire in Station 1's district, with mutual aid from the Irving Fire Department, according to a department social media post.

Crews arriving at the two-story residence initially saw no visible signs of fire. Engine 121 was assigned to investigate and found a heavy volume of smoke upon opening the front door. Crews then transitioned to a working structure fire operation, searching for occupants, positioning an attack line for suppression and ventilating the structure.

Officials said the homeowner's quick action in closing a bedroom door was key to slowing the fire's spread and growth. The suspected cause of the fire was a lithium-ion battery device left charging on an improper surface, which caused overheating and ignited the fire.

The Coppell Fire Department shared the following safety lessons from the incident:

●       Closed doors can help slow or stop the spread of fire to other areas.

●       Lithium-ion devices, such as phones, tablets or small appliances, should be charged on a hard, flat surface, such as a countertop, table or nightstand.

●       Devices should be unplugged or removed from the charger once they have reached full capacity.

Several mutual aid companies assisted with fireground operations and provided fill-in coverage to maintain continuity of service for residents.

SOURCE Coppell Fire Department