Saturday, March 12, 2011

Fire Press Release Two Fer

ISSUING OFFICER: Dave Haworth/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 3/8/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 4827 N Addison
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99207

NARRATIVE: On Tuesday, March 8th, at 0100 AM, the Spokane Fire Department responded 3 engines, 1 ladder, 1 pumper-ladder, 1 heavy rescue, and 2 battalion chiefs to a reported structure fire at 4827 N Addison. The Northside Battalion Chief arrived first and reported smoke coming from the front door of a single story, wood constructed residence. Engine 15 was the first arriving fire company and advanced a preconnected hose off of their truck to the front door. Other arriving companies were assigned to search the residence to ensure all occupants were out, remove the smoke, and connect a supply hose to a hydrant. The fire was found in the kitchen and was extinguished before it had a chance to spread to the rest of the house. All occupants had been asleep, but they were alerted by a smoke detector and escaped. Again this fire underscores the critical importance of having a working smoke detector in your home.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The fire was likely caused by cooking oil being left on the stove.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The kitchen sustained heavy fire damage with smoke damage to the rest of the first floor. The tenents were unable to return to their home and are spending the night with neighbors.
DOLLAR LOSS: 5000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
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


ISSUING OFFICER: Craig Cornelius / Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 3/7/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 812 E. Jackson
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99207

NARRATIVE: This morning, March 7th, 2011 at 04:10 am the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 6 apparatus to a reported fire in a home located at 812 E. Jackson.

Ladder 2 under the direction of Lt. Don Waller, arrived at the fire scene within 4 minutes. Lt. Waller reported that he had a residential home with light smoke showing from the basement. He verified that all occupants were out of the home and started assigning incoming fire crews.

Hose lines were brought into the basement and onto the first floor. An additional search of the home was made. Crews making the search found a small dog in a crate and brought it out to the family. The small dog was unharmed.

Crews in the basement located a fire in a crawl space and extinguished it. The crawl space was difficult to access due to clearances and heavy smoke. Firefighters were on the scene for over an hour verifying that the fire was out and had not spread to other areas.

The fire was confined to the crawl space area in the basement. The upper portion of the home sustained heavy smoke damage. There were no injuries at this fire and the cause is still under investigation. Early indications are that the cause is electrically related.


PROBABLE CAUSE: Fire cause is still under investigation at this time, possible electrial.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Fire confined to basement.
DOLLAR LOSS: 18000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
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

Friday, March 11, 2011

Submitted to the S-R's Letters to the Editor.

West Plains Fire Service

In the article on March 9, “Fire administrators say consolidation is complicated by Labor...” “Economically it makes sense, but politically it may not.” The fire fighters are not complicating the issue; in fact Labor groups have developed multiple plans and solutions for consolidation. It makes economic sense for all agencies and especially the affected citizens. It appears some Politicians and administrators have a fear of doing what is right for the community. Are the citizen’s best interests being considered? Does each agency by itself have enough staff to provide a safe work environment to protect the citizens? Are the citizens getting what they are paying for? Duplication of services and multiple responses by various agencies is not the best way to provide service, it makes sense to merge and consolidate services. Those in control say “they are in favor of regionalization” but their actions say differently. Mergers and consolidation of services has the potential to save the taxpayer money and provide a better level of service. Labor is not the problem. It is the administrators and politicians that stand to lose their position or role. Regionalization works and it is in the best interest of the citizens.

Mark Vietzke
President Spokane Firefighters IAFF Local 29
Tim Lively
President SIA Firefighters IAFF Local 1789

Monday, March 07, 2011

America Is NOT Broke

OK. This article is by Michael Moore. And I get it that some of you don't like him. He gets on my nerves sometimes, too. But, he hits the nail on the head with this article. This is the stuff the TV news won't tell you. In fact, this is the stuff they don't want America to know. Instead, they want America to think that you and your collective bargaining, your pension and your standing together, as a union, are the reason we are in the mess we are in. It is simply not true and Mr. Moore points that out. I don't agree with all that he says here, and I know his hyperbole will turn a lot of you off, but his voice is sticking up for all of us who are in unions and I thought you might like to hear what he says:

Michael Moore | Saturday 05 March 2011