Saturday, March 31, 2012

Fire Press Release

Shadle area house fire

Incident #: 2012013038
Date of Incident: 3/30/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo

Narrative:
At 11:36 A.M. on Friday, March 30th, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 4218 N. Ash St. The first crew on-scene reported a one story, wood framed house with heavy smoke and fire showing from a front bedroom window. As the first crew advanced their hose through the front door toward the fire, other crews arrived and began a search of the house for any victims. The house was determined to be vacant and no victims were found. The fire was quickly reached and knocked down, but overhaul efforts to complete extinguishment continued for another hour. Fire damage was confined to one bedroom and the attic/roof area above that bedroom. The remainder of the house suffered extensive heat and smoke damage. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

Cause:
The cause of this fire is currently under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit.

Damage:
Fire damage was confined to one bedroom and the attic/roof area above that bedroom. The remainder of the house suffered extensive heat and smoke damage.

# Firefighters Responding: 23

Dollar Loss: $30000

End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Fire Press Release

North Battalion Structure Fire

Incident #: 2012012591
Date of Incident: 3/27/2012
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Mike Thompson

Narrative:
The Spokane Fire Department dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 2216 W. Mallon at 07:33 hrs on Tuesday, March 27, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire company, E3 from the West Central neighborhood Fire Station, reported fire had engulfed the front of the structure. They reported that neighbors identified it to be a vacant house. Later, there were reports that a transients may have been staying in the house. E3 declared a Working fire wich added an additional senior Ladder Truck to the incident. Arriving engine companies stretched pre-connected hose lines into multiple areas of the structure to confine the fire's progress while ladder companies went to the roof to provide vertical ventilation and searched the structure. Fortunately the search found no victims. The very hot and well-advanced fire was brought under control in approximately one hour. Fire damage to the structure was considerable and much of the interior of the building had to be opened by the firefighters to ensure that no fire was concealed in the walls and ceilings. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by members of the Spokane Fire Dept. Special Investigation Unit.

Cause:
Under Investigation

Damage:
The vacant house suffered severe fire damage to the first and second floor living areas and also to portions of the roof.

# Firefighters Responding: 25

Dollar Loss: $80,000

End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Fire Press Release

South Battalion Single Family House Fire

Incident #: 2012012566
Date of Incident: 3/26/2012
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief

Narrative:
The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 5555 S. Cheney Spokane Road at 23:56 hrs. on Monday, March 26th, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire company, L4 from the Browne's Addition neighborhood Fire Station, reported smoke showing from the roof vents and around the metal chimney of a large wood/frame Ranch style residence. They reported also that the residents of the home had safely evacuated and were located outside of the building. The 4 person crew from that first rig on scene used two members of their crew to enter the dwelling to investigate while the other two members set their aerial ladder to the roof of the house in preparation for possible vertical ventilation of the roof. Reports from the crew inside indicated a fire burning inside the walls and ceiling area above and around the fireplace located in the large, main living area of the home. That crew immediately began opening up the wall area above the fireplace and found fire burning on some of the structural framing of the walls and some of the supporting members of the roof system. As that initial crew was working, additional fire apparatus began arriving on scene. E1 from the Spokane Fire Department's Headquarters Station, located in downtown Spokane, was next to arrive on scene and they provided fire attack hose leads to knock the fire down. As still other fire apparatus began arriving on scene, they were directed to stage their apparatus out on Spokane Cheney Road and walk up the approximately 60 foot long uphill, narrow, and winding driveway to the house because access to this home by any additional large fire apparatus was very restricted. Additional water supply for this remotely located house was a concern and so a Water Tender from Fire District 10 was requested to respond to the incident as well. Very aggressive interior work by the crews on scene got the fire knocked down quickly and limited the fire's ability to spread into other areas of the structure, however collateral damage was done to areas of the home in and around the fireplace as crews widened the search area for hidden fire by further opening up the walls and ceilings. Crews worked on this fire for nearly four hours to insure that all of the hot spots were fully extinguished. There were no reports of any injuries to the firefighters or civilians on the fire ground. The cause of the fire is being investigated by members of the Spokane City Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Preliminary investigation is focusing on a possible failure of the metal chimney system located in the interior walls and running up through the large and fairly open attic area and finally out the roof. Two senior ladder trucks, four engines, one heavy rescue rig, one water tender, and two Command Vehicles, delivered 26 fire fighters to the scene of this late night fire.

Cause:
Preliminary investigation is focusing on a failure of the extensive metal chimney system.

Damage:
Fire damage was limited to the structural framing in, around, and above the fireplace located in the main living area of the home.

# Firefighters Responding: 26

Dollar Loss: $20,000

Other Fire Districts Responding: Fire District 10

End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Fire Press Release Two Fer.

North Battalion Garage Fire

Incident #: 2012012253
Date of Incident: 3/25/2012
Issuing Officer: BC Dave Haworth

Narrative:
On Sunday, 03/25/2012, at 01:12 AM, the Spokane Fire Department responded 1 Ladder, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, and 2 Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 1127 W Fairview Ave. First arriving SE3, located in the West Central Neighborhood, arrived in just over 2 minutes and encountered a 2 story, wood constructed garage with fire coming through the roof. SE3, after ensuring there was no one in the garage, advanced a hose off their apparatus and began to attack the fire. As additional companies arrived they began coordinated efforts to open all the doors, keep the fire from spreading, and removal of the smoke. The fire was quickly brought under control and was totally extinguished within 1 hour. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

Cause:
The cause is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department SIU.

Damage:
Damage was extensive throughout the entire structure with the second floor and roof a total loss.

# Firefighters Responding: 20

Dollar Loss: $20000

End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002



South Battalion Structure Fire

Incident #: 2012011745
Date of Incident: 3/21/2012
Issuing Officer: BC Dave Haworth

Narrative:
On Wednesday, March 21, at 06:09 PM, the Spokane Fire Department responded 2 Ladders, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, and 2 Battalion Chiefs to a reported fire in a single family residence located at 1602 E Mallon. The first arriving fire company, SE7, which is located in the Southeast Neighborhood, encountered smoke coming from the front door and eaves of a 600 square foot wood constructed residence. SE7 advanced a hose off of their apparatus to the front door and entered the structure to attack the fire. As other fire companies arrived they began coordinated efforts to search the structure for occupants, keep the fire from spreading, and to remove the smoke. The quick actions of the crews resulted in the fire being confined to the kitchen area with a small amount of extension into the attic. All occupants were accounted for and there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. The occupants are unable to stay in the home due to the damage and the Red Cross is providing assistance.

Cause:
The Spokane Fire Department SIU has determined that unattended cooking was the cause of this fire.

Damage:
Direct fire damage was confined to the kitchen and attic with smoke damage throughout the rest of the residence.

# Firefighters Responding: 24

Dollar Loss: $20000

End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002