Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/18/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2112 W Sinto
CITY: Spokane
STATE: W
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Department responded fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 2112 W Sinto at 1:11 in the afternoon on Wednesday, Feb. 18th, for a reported structure fire. Additional information provided by Fire Dept. Dispatchers to the responding fire companies included reports from 9-1-1 callers that they could see smoke coming from the roof area of the house. The first arriving fire company radioed that there was indeed smoke showing from the roof and vents of a single story wood/frame dwelling and that they were going to attempt to make entry into the structure to investigate for the source of the smoke. Later arriving fire companies were assigned various tasks which included securing a water supply, forcible entry, ventilation (both vertical and horizontal), search and rescue, back-up fire leads, and scene safety. The fire fighting crews inside the residence were able to gain access into the attic space by pulling ceilings and found the well hidden fire smoldering in the attic insulation. Crews on the roof cut a large ventilation hole in the roof over the suspected area of attic involvement and assisted in the extinguishment. Search and recue efforts determined that there was no one in the house at the time of the fire. Once the main fire was discovered and extinguished the fire crews at the scene began the labor intensive job of digging out and removing the blown-in insulation to insure that all the smoldering material was extinguished and removed from the interior of the structure. There were no reports of any injuries to civilians or to the fire fighters. Investigators from the Spokane Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit responded to the scene and began their investigation into the cause of this fire. Preliminary investigation is centering on the old wiring system which supplies electrical power to the building. Damage to the dwelling was confined to the ceilings in the kitchen, dining, and living room; the attic space over those affected rooms, and of course the rear area of the roof.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Currently under investigation with preliminary indications centering on the electrical system and the wiring in that system.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Ceilings in the living room, dining room, and kitchen; the attic spaces over those affected rooms; the back portion of the house's roof.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 24
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