Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Ken Kirsch Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/17/2006
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3908 E 2nd
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: On 12/17/06 at approximately 0840 hrs units of the Spokane Fire Department responded to 3908 E 2nd upon report of a house on fire. First arriving units found heavy smoke coming from an approximately 900 square foot, one story, single family residence. These crews were also able to determine that all occupants of the house had exited safely prior to SFD arrival on scene. Fire Department crews advanced pre-connected hose-lines in the front door of the structure and extinguished a fire in the kitchen area. While the fire was being extinguished, others crew members laddered the roof of the building, set-up fans to ventilate smoke from the house, and established a water supply for engine operations. The fire was extinguished within approximately 10 minutes with overhaul of the fire area continuing for about the next hour. Damage to the structure included fire damage to the kitchen and an adjacent utility room, with smoke damage evident throughout.

A total of 34 firefighters on 12 apparatus responded to this incident. No injuries were reported to either firefighters or civilians.

Three tenants occupied this structure two adult males and one adult female. The structure is considered un-tenable at this time and the Red Cross is working to find housing for those displaced.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause of the fire has been determined to be a cooking fire. Cooking oil was being heated on the stove, it was left unattended, and the oil ignited. The fire then spread from the stove to surrounding materials in the kitchen.

It should be noted that the house did have a smoke detector but that the battery had been taken out so it could be replaced. Unfortunately the new battery had not been re-installed. This incident could have easily been a tragedy as the tenants were asleep at the time the incident started and were actually awakened by the smoke from the fire itself. Fortunately in this incident all tenants were able to safely exit the structure. The Spokane Fire Department would like to remind everyone that fire detectors do save lives but only if they are in proper working condition. Test all smoke detectors often and change the batteries often.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Damage to the structure included fire damage to the kitchen and an adjacent utility room, with smoke damage evident throughout.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 34
MUTUAL AID: None Given