Fire Breaks Out at Cowboys Facility for First Time in a Decade

On Friday morning, a fire erupted at the Dallas Cowboys' Frisco, Texas practice facility, marking the first such incident since its opening nearly ten years ago. The blaze ignited around 4:00 a.m. within a commercial laundry machine at the Ford Center at The Star. Fans had last congregated at the center on August 26 for a Cowboys Night event, and the team concluded their final preseason game on August 28. The fire's timing, occurring a week after the completion of training camp, added to the unexpected nature of the event.

The Ford Center, a 12,000-seat indoor stadium and the heart of the Cowboys' corporate headquarters, is situated at The Star, a 91-acre campus developed through a partnership involving the team, the city of Frisco, and the local school district. In addition to NFL players, the facility accommodates local high school teams for Friday night games.

Frisco Fire Department Deputy Chief Jacob Leeper confirmed that the fire was contained to a commercial laundry appliance, and security personnel swiftly extinguished the small blaze with a fire extinguisher until Frisco FD units arrived. No structural damage was reported to the building. On-site security successfully managed to control the fire before emergency crews could arrive, ensuring that the Cowboys players remained unharmed. They were enjoying a rare three-day weekend off before the regular season commenced.

The swift response by security and Frisco FD units prevented any structural damage to the facility, providing a significant relief for both the team and the local community. The facility is a vital community hub that hosts Frisco ISD high school football games during the fall season. With the stadium confirmed safe, the local high school football schedule proceeded without any cancellations or delays.

Although the Dallas Cowboys suffered a narrow 27-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints in their preseason finale, their overall record for the exhibition stretch stood at 2-1, which was a promising sign. Players were expected to return to the Ford Center on Monday to build on that positive momentum as they prepared for their regular-season opener against the New York Giants.