fire press release

ISSUING OFFICER: Mike Inman / Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 8/21/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 923 E. Walton
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99207

NARRATIVE: At just before 2:00 am Friday August 21, 2009 the Spokane Fire Department was called to a house full of smoke at 923 E. Walton in Spokane, WA. Four Engines, one Ladder Truck, one Rescue Unit and two Battalion Chiefs were dispatched for a total of twenty one Firefighters. Upon arrival of Engine 2 found a single family residence with moderate smoke coming out of the front door. They advanced a 1 ¾" hose line to the front door. Inside they found a window air conditioning unit that had burned up. They reported the fire was out and all they needed was two Engine Companies and a Ladder Truck to assist with ventilating the smoke out of the residence. The air conditioner was plugged into an extension cord with other electrical items in the living room. Damage was confined to the air conditioner, a chair, some items on a desk, molding around the window, smoke throughout the house and scorched paint around the window. A neighbor assisted by helping get birds out of the house and fighting the fire with a garden hose. Both adults at home at the time as well as one of the neighbors said they had breathed some smoke but refused aid when looked at by Engine 15 a Paramedic unit. The quick actions by the neighbor most likely minimized the fire damage but it can be dangerous using a garden hose to fight a fire inside or involving a structure. Smoke inhalation, electrical shock, and the intensity of the fire being too much for the small amount of water coming from a standard garden hose are just some of the dangers faced when citizens attack a fire involving a structure using a garden hose. Smoke detectors inside the house were sounding and everyone got out safely. The air conditioning unit in this house appeared to be plugged into an extension cord. Don't use extension cords to power air conditioners as they draw too much electricity for an extension cord to handle. It can quickly lead to overheating which causes a fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Accidental, electrical
DAMAGE EXTENT: The air conditioner, a chair, some items on a desk, molding around the window, broken glass in the window, smoke throughout the house and scorched paint around the window.
DOLLAR LOSS: 1000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 21
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