Fire Press Release

House Fire On West End

Incident #: 2013015358
Date of Incident: 04/12/2013
Issuing Officer: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief

Narrative:On Friday April 12^th, 2013 at 1:28 A.M. The Spokane Fire Department responded to a house fire located at 524 S. Audubon in the Government Way/Sunset Blvd area of the city. Engine and Ladder 4 from their neighborhood fire station location of Riverside and Maple were the first crews to arrive and found a one and a half story wood frame dwelling that was fully involved with heavy fire. A smaller storage shed converted into a living space was next to the house and was also on fire. A defensive strategy was planned due to the heavy fire involvement and weakening structure. Because of this, crews were limited in their tactics and had to maintain an exterior position and fight the fire from the outside. Hose lines from the ground position staffed with numerous firefighters and an aerial master stream from Ladder 4 were used in the containment of the fire. The storage shed sustained only exterior damage and the entire interior was spared due to the efforts of the exposure crews. It took 1 hour and 25 minutes to knock down the fire mostly due to the large void areas in the walls and roof of the dwelling. Fire crews maintained their defensive position through the night until daylight dealing with flare-ups and spot fires. The Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department is currently investigating the fire. There were no reported injuries.

Cause:Under investigation at this time by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit.

Damage:Dwelling was totally destroyed. Storage shed sustained exterior damage.

# Firefighters Responding: 25

Dollar Loss: $ 200,000

Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department, Avista Company (Electrical and Gas)

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