Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: BC Craig Cornelius
DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/23/2006
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2812 W Mallon
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: This morning, December 23, 2006 at 05:17 hours, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported house fire located at 2812 W Mallon.

Engine 3, the first fire company arrived within 5 minutes. Engine 3's Officer reported smoke showing from the east side of the second floor of a single family home. Fire crews verified that all family members had escaped the fire before attacking the fire. Fire crews immediately advanced pre-connected hose lines into the home. The fire, which started in the ceiling of the first floor extended up the home's exterior walls and into the attic area of the second floor. 28 Fire Fighters brought the fire under control within 20 minutes and the majority of the home and contents were saved.

Cold winter conditions contributed to the challenges at this fire. This was the second "working fire" during the night time hours where water from fire hydrants was brought into play. Dealing with wet, frozen hose and fire clothing is routine during these cold periods.

There were no injuries at this fire. The family, (two adults and one child) were alerted to smoke in the home by their child who was having difficulty sleeping. The child's parents had invested in their families' safety by recently servicing the home's smoke detectors. These detectors did eventually activate and would have warned the family of the fire. Old electrical wiring in the home's ceiling appears to have been the cause of this fire.



PROBABLE CAUSE: Old electrical wiring.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Ceiling and Walls first and second floors.
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 28
MUTUAL AID: None Given