Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/11/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1737 E Sanson
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99207

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Department dispatched fire crews and their apparatus to 1737 E. Sanson at 12:09 in the very early morning on Wednesday, Feb 11th, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire crew reported heavy smoke coming from the roof and eaves of a single story wood/frame dwelling and radioed their intent to enter the structure with a charged fire lead in an attempt to locate the fire and extinguish it. As the other incoming fire apparatus were approaching the scene, the Incident Commander began making assignments to them that included search and rescue, additional fire hose leads, ventilation (both horizontal and vertical), water supply, and fire scene safety. The crews inside the structure reported heavy smoke conditions which hampered their progress somewhat as they struggled against the heat and smoke. They were finally able to get to the back bedroom where the fire is believed to have originated and, once there, got a fairly quick knockdown of the fire. There were no reported injuries to the fire fighters or to the tenants. Early discovery of the fire by one of the tenants, especially because of the time of the night, contributed to their successful escape from the house at a time when conditions inside were rapidly becoming critical. The house sustained very serious smoke damage throughout as the thick, black smoke that was present inside covered nearly all of the contents in the structure. The bedroom where the fire originated was completely destroyed and a good-sized hole had been cut in the roof of the house to allow the pent-up heat and toxic by-products of combustion out of the building. Ceilings were pulled and walls were opened up inside the building to allow the fire fighters to be able to fully extinguish any stubborn hot spots that were still burning. Investigators from the Spokane Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit were on the scene trying to determine the cause of this early morning fire and at the time of this report no conclusions have been reached.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Currently under investigation by the Spokane Fire Dept.'s SIU.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Severe fire damage to the bedroom of origin, heavy fire and collateral damage to other areas of the buiding, and severe smoke damage to the entire interior and contents of the structure.
DOLLAR LOSS: 50,000.00
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 25
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE