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Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/4/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 707 W. 5th on the 10th floor
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99204

NARRATIVE: On Monday night, October 4th at 8:31 P.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of smoke on the 10th floor of the Cooper George Retirement Community Apartments. Smoke was found on the 10th and 11th floors once fire crews were inside the building. A decision to hook hoses to the buildings standpipe and sprinkler systems was made as additional fire crews were sent to the upper levels to assist with evacuating the tenants and searching for the source of the smoke. A fire crew assigned to search and rescue occupants, found a large garbage can inside a utility room that was on fire. They quickly extinguished the fire with their pump can and began to ventilate the room by removing the smoke with power fans. A room by room search was conducted in order to confirm the status of each occupant that might remain inside their apartment units. Fortunately, no one was injured by the smoke that was present throughout the structure. A total of 30 firefighters responded to this fire with 5 engines, 2 ladders, a pumper ladder, a rescue unit and 2 battalion chiefs. The smoke condition throughout this large complex became the challenge, as it was increasing in volume after the initial arrival of the fire department. With a large occupant load, and the fire reported to be on a upper floor within this high rise building, the fire department had many challenges to face such as deploying personnel and equipment to those higher levels in a safe, efficient and rapid manner. Special High Rise hose was taken in as crews entered the building as was their Thermal Imaging Cameras that use infrared technology to detect hot spots and people that may remain trapped and unable to get out of the burning structure. The fire cause is undetermined at this time and remains under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigative Unit.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Undetermined at this time. The fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigative Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: 50 gallon plastic garbage can was totally destroyed. There was moderate smoke damage on the 4th through 13th floors.
DOLLAR LOSS: 1,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 30
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