Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 3/15/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1634 N Holliston Road
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 1634 N. Holliston Road at 11:25 PM on Saturday, March 14th, to a reported structure fire. Initially one Fire Company was dispatched to investigate a reported possible chimney fire at this address. Once that fire crew was on scene they noticed visible flames burning on the roof near the chimney of the 2 story wood/frame dwelling and immediately requested a full alarm to respond. While other apparatus were in route to this incident the on-scene crew began to stretch hose lines, don their SCBAs, and do the other tasks required prior to making entry into the building. Once some of the additional companies began arriving on scene, entry was made into the interior of the structure to determine the extent of the problem and to locate the source of the fire. As the remaining fire crews began arriving on scene, assignments were given to put ladders to the house for access to the roof, search the building for any possible victims, ventilate the house, put additional hose lines into the structure for fire suppression and to back-up the crew already inside, and to shut off the gas supply and shut down the electrical circuits in the house. Quick action and aggressive fire fighting techniques, both inside the structure and outside on the roof, resulted in a rapid knock down of the fire which prevented more serious damage to the house. All occupants of the structure were able to exit the building prior to Fire Dept. arrival. The occupants are a family of four who lived on the main floor of the building, the upper floor has been converted to an apartment and that tenant was not at home at the time of the fire. The Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary lodging and the apartment tenant was going to be staying with family until the structure can be repaired. There were no reports of any injuries to the firefighters or to the displaced family. Damage to the house was substantial on the first and second floors and to the roof area around the chimney. There was some water and smoke damage in addition to the fire damage. Members of the Spokane Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit arrived on scene as the fire fighting work was starting to wind down and began their investigation into the cause of this fire. Further investigation is scheduled to continue on Sunday as their work is made much easier by the light of day. Twenty three fire fighters were delivered to this incident on 6 pieces of fire fighting apparatus, 2 Command vehicles, and 1 fire investigation truck.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Currently under investigation.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy fire damage to the roof area around the chimney; moderate fire, water, and smoke damage to the upper floor apartment, moderate fire, water, and smoke damage to the ground floor's living room especially the ceiling and the walls surrounding the fire place.

DOLLAR LOSS: 25,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
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