PORT NECHES, Texas — The Port Neches Fire Department is inviting the public to attend an open house Thursday evening to spread a message of fire prevention after several recent fires that could have been prevented.
The "Fire Prevention Open House" is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Port Neches Fire Station at 606 Magnolia Ave.
The department cited several recent fires as a reason to hold the event including a large grass fire on October 9, 2023.
Firefighters responded to that midday fire and found heavy fire along the back fence line of several properties according to a news release.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before any structures were damaged and firefighters determined that the fire was started by improperly discarding debris from an open burn fire pit the night before the release said.
Two days later firefighters were sent to a house fire in the 2300 block of Fourth St along with firefighters from Groves and Nederland.
When they arrived, Port Neches firefighters found heavy fire coming from the front door and carport of the home.
Both of the residents were able to escape without injury and their dog was also rescued the release said.
After investigating firefighters learned that the fire started after combustible material was left near a gas water heater's pilot light.
The department also released some fire prevention tips...
The Port Neches Fire Department would like to remind the community of a few fire safety tips to help keep you and your families safe:
- When discarding coal from cooking or a BBQ pit, ensure the coals are cool before discarding them in a metal container.
- Avoid placing combustible materials near ignition sources such as water heaters, stove ranges, fireplaces, etc.
- Cooking continues to be the number one cause of residential fires. 44% of all fires ran between 2017 and 2021 resulted from cooking. (NFPA, 2023)Smoke alarms save lives! Smoke alarms will alert you in the event smoke is detected and can provide you with valuable time to escape the home to safety.
- Open burning within the city limits of Port Neches is prohibited per city ordinance. This includes burning of debris, green waste, etc. in open pits or on the ground.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
