For Immediate Release
September 19, 2013
Joplin Fire Department
Structure Fire, 1715 S Rex Avenue, Joplin, Mo.
The Joplin Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire at 1715 S Rex Avenue, The Plaza Apartments. Time of call was 1834 hours on Thursday evening, 19 September. Fire crews arrived on the scene at 1837 hours to find smoke and flame coming from the outside balcony of apartment #128 on the 2nd floor. The fire was declared under control at 1852 hours.
6 Joplin Fire units and 18 Joplin Fire personnel responded, along with the JPD, and METS. The apartment is occupied by Alex O’Brien who was not home at the time of the fire. No one was injured on the scene.
The cause is currently under investigation by the Joplin Fire Marshall.

It is important to note that the sprinkler system (in this case with a sprinkler head above the balcony) activated as it is designed to do, thus immediately putting water directly on the source of the fire. This, in combination with the short response time and well-practiced fire fighting skills of the JFD, resulted in limiting the fire to the balcony and outside wall.

Keith Stammer
Public Information Officer
Joplin Fire Department