SFD Press Release - Hotel Fire

ISSUING OFFICER: Brian Schaeffer, Assistant Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/21/2006
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 4301 West Sunset Drive
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99206

NARRATIVE: On Monday, November 20, 2006 at 5:58 PM, ten Spokane Fire Department companies; one Rescue Company, one Pumper/Ladder, five Engines and two Senior Ladder companies under the direction of Battalion Chief Joel fielder responded to a report of a fire in the kitchen at the Travel Lodge Airport Hotel, 4301 West Sunset Drive.

Firefighters arrived on scene within 6-minutes to find a five story hotel with fire showing from the roof and heavy smoke throughout the public-access areas of the lobby and restaurant. Firefighters immediately began an aggressive interior attack and focused on confining the fire to its area of origin while simultaneously confirming that all hotel residents were evacuated and accounted for. Engine and Ladder companies were successful in controlling the fire within 15-minutes with the assistance of positive pressure ventilation and vertical ventilation provided by Ladder companies. Companies had to be assigned one every floor to coordinate searches and locate hidden areas where fire had traveled vertically to the roof. The hotel had approximately 89 rooms with a current occupation of less than eight persons at the time of the fire. In all, nearly forty (40) Firefighters were utilized to mitigate the incident in approximately 60 minutes and there were no injuries to fire or civilian personnel.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause of the fire remains under investigation by SFD Investigators, however preliminary information gathered at the scene suggests the fire's cause was accidental. The area of origin was determined to be near a cooking area in the kitchen. Reports from employees indicate that the food "flashed" and produced a rapidly moving grease fire which traveled up the hood system and horizontally in the kitchen area. A hood and duct fire protection system was activated, however was not successful in keeping the damage limited to the cooking area.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The fire extended vertically through the ductwork and caused significant damage in the duct and void-space areas of nearly all floors and the roof. The kitchen suffered severe damage and the results of investigation will most likely be known late tomorrow.
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE:
MUTUAL AID: None Given