OCA
2104-00055Harris County Fire Marshal`s Office
THE INFORMATION BELOW IS CONFIDENTIAL - FOR USE BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
Date / Time Reported
Sat 04/17/2021 21:43
OffenseVictim
VARNER, WILLIAM TERRANCE FIRE (ACCIDENTAL)
REPORTING OFFICER NARRATIVE
ASSIGNMENT:
On Saturday, April 17th, 2021 at approximately 2144 hours I, Investigator J.Benavides, Unit #95F28 of the Harris
County Fire Marshal`s Office responded to a vehicle fire located at the 22 block of Hammock Dunes Place, Spring
TX 77389 in unincorporated Harris County, Texas. I was assigned to this incident by Lieutenant Singleton. While
enroute to the scene, The Woodlands Fire Department requested investigators after discovering that the incident
resulted in two fatalities. Lieutenant J.Singleton Unit #95F6, Investigator C.Johnson Unit #95F32, Investigator
O.Castiblanco Unit #95F27, Safety Officer E.Zugner, and HAZMAT A-Shift also responded and assisted with the
investigation.
The Harris County Fire Marshal`s Office K9 team was contacted; see K9 supplement for details.
I arrived on scene at 2215 hours and met with Chief Rice of The Woodlands Fire Department. I learned that The
Woodlands Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 2124 hours and arrived on scene at 2136 hours.
SCENE DESCRIPTION:
I observed the scene to be a wooded area and clearing located on the north side of the 22 block of Hammock Dunes
Place, within unincorporated Harris County, Texas. The clearing is located south of a small body of water, and spans
several hundred feet from the eastern edge of the wooded area to the western edge of the property located at 14
Hammock Dunes Place. According to the Harris County Appraisal District, the lot is owned by Carlton Woods
Creekside Association. The involved portion of Hammock Dunes Place is a 2-lane 2-way public roadway which runs
northeast to southwest.
Located on the east end of the wooded area, at the western edge of the clearing, was a burned 2019 Tesla Model S.
The vehicle was in an upright position facing to the southwest. The vehicle`s identification number is
which was obtained from the vehicle title.
Weather conditions at the approximate time of the incident are based on information obtained from Weather
Underground. At 2153 hours the temperature was 57.0 degrees Fahrenheit, no heat index, dew point of 49.0 degrees
Fahrenheit, and 74 % relative humidity, barometric pressure of 29.95 inches, wind direction was north and wind
speed was 14 mph, cloudy skies, and no precipitation. Weather report PDF was attached to this report.
Lighting conditions on scene were poor due to night hours but were supplemented with artificial lighting.
SCENE SAFETY:
I carried a ToxiRAE 3 CO detector that is programmed to alert at 35 ppm of carbon monoxide. At no time during the
investigation did the device alert. While on scene personal protective equipment was worn, to include boots, dig
shirt, gloves, and an N99 particulate filtration mask. Due to the scene involving an electric vehicle, there were high
hazards for both electric shock and respiratory injury to responders. The nature of the vehicle`s power system
presented risk from high voltage exposures, and inhalation exposures from the release of various chemicals contained
within the damaged lithium-ion cells. These inhalation exposures include the potential release of hydrogen fluoride
and other toxic gases. Personnel from both The Woodlands Fire Department and The Harris County Precinct 4
Constable`s Office were notified of the potential risk and advised to stay out of the immediate scene area without
proper personal protective equipment. The area immediately surrounding the vehicle was cordoned off and marked
with yellow tape. See Lieutenant Singleton`s supplement for additional information.
BENAVIDES, J.
Reporting Officer:
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Printed By: PDENNIS, 04/27/2021 08:52
R_CS3NC