Tulsa Firefighters Report Surge In Fires Compared To Same Time Last Year

The Tulsa Fire Department said its staff have battled double the number of fires compared to this same time last year.

One of this week’s big fires included as a blaze Tuesday that destroyed Fischer Brothers Office Supplies and left neighboring business Marshall Brewing Company with smoke and water damage.

Related Story: Building Fire In Downtown Tulsa Put Out By Multiple Crews

"All the anxiety of everything watching your business and property potentially go up in flames but only to see the brave and selfless firefighters completely save the building,” said owner Eric Marshall.

Marshall also said he is grateful his taproom will eventually open again.

Meanwhile, Andy Little with the Tulsa Fire Department told News On 6 the cause of the fire next door at the office supply business was a portable heater that was left on to warm the water pipe.

"Certainly, the space heaters, the cooking fires, and using alternative forms of heat to try and heat your homes, like your oven, those things are all preventable," explained Little.

Little said other fire causes lately have been electrical issues, like at a house fire Feb. 19 near 31st and Memorial.

Here is the breakdown of the 82 total Tulsa fires since Feb. 12: 16 apartment fires, eight building fires, 16 car fires, one dumpster fire, 40 house fires and one shed fire.

That is nearly double the calls compared to the same time last year, which had only a quarter of the number of house fires.

2020 saw 43 fires in the same time period: seven apartment fires, five building fires, 13 car fires, six dumpster fires, 10 house fires and two shed fires.

"Anytime you have extreme cold, you're going to have more fires than normal because people are trying to heat their homes, they're trying to stay warm,” said Little.

Little also said the majority of fire companies have been running nonstop but thankfully no major injuries.