Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/3/2007
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3808 E. 21st Ave.
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99203

NARRATIVE: This morning, February 3rd, at 0407, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 3808 E. 21st Ave. The first engine on-scene reported that the two adult occupants were outside, and that there was heavy smoke coming from the basement. The house was a single family split entry structure. The occupants were awakened by their 9 week-old puppy, and escaped as heat and smoke were filling the house. In their haste to escape, the puppy got left behind. Fire crews discovered the puppy during their search and brought it out, scared and smoky, but otherwise uninjured. Crews advanced a hose lead to the basement as other crews performed a secondary victim search, and opened walls upstairs above the fire to check for fire extension. The main body of fire was knocked down within 15 minutes, but crews continued to expose and extinguish fire in the upstairs walls for an additional 30 minutes.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Cause of the fire is still under investigation, but is most likely accidental, originating in the basement utility/furnace room.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Damage to the house was extensive. There was heavy fire damage in a basement utility room, along with heavy smoke and heat damage throughout the structure. The damage is estimated to be $30,000.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given