Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 1/13/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1528 E Boone Ave.
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99202

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. responded fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 1528 E. Boone Ave. at 6:41 on the morning of Jan. 13th, 2009, for a reported structure fire. As fire crews were responding to this address they received additional reports from Fire Dispatch advising them that the four occupants of the structure had exited safely from the building. The first arriving fire crew reported that there was light smoke coming from the front of the structure and that they were preparing to enter to investigate for the cause of the smoke. Eventually two more fire fighting crews were assigned to assist in this investigation as they began arriving on scene. Armed with fire hoses, axes, pike poles, and thermal imaging cameras, these crews were able to dig out this fire from the walls and ceilings that were keeping it from being seen. Once uncovered the fire was quickly contained and extinguished by the crews who were inside doing their assigned work. There were no reports of any injuries to the fire fighters at the scene or to the occupants of the building. This particular house was divided into two apartments; an upper unit which was occupied by the building owner, and a lower unit occupied by a young couple and their infant. The younger couple is being assisted by the Red Cross as their unit will be without electricity until electrical repairs can be completed. The owner, who resides in the upper portion of the duplex, may have to make other short-term living arrangements as well. An investigator from the Spokane Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit was on scene shortly after the fire had been extinguished and his preliminary investigation has focused on the electrical system in the building as being the probable cause of this early morning fire. Damage to the structural members of the building was kept to a minimum since the fire crews were able to expose the fire and extinguish it before it could get a good foot-hold on the structure. Once the electrical repairs have been made and other additional interior repairs are finished, the house should once again be habitable.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The electrical system in the house is the apparent cause for the fire.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Damage to the electrical system is severe, structural damage was fairly slight, limited water damage, some smoke damage throughout the building, and some interior cosmetic damage was caused by having to breach walls in the search for the fire.
DOLLAR LOSS: 10,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 25
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE