DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/24/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 543 E Princeton
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99207
NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 543 E. Princeton at 23:25 hrs. on November 24th, 2010, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire company, from the Hillyard neighborhood, reported light smoke issuing from above the closed front door and the roof overhang. As that company was entering the unlocked structure to begin an investigation, other apparatus began arriving on scene to assist them. Two fire crews then began an interior search of the building looking for any occupants who might be inside and attempting to locate the source of the increasing smoke. After a minute or two the crews inside reported by radio that they had located a room toward the rear of the house where they were encountering a lot of heat and heavier smoke. While one of the interior fire crews continued searching for possible victims, the other crew attacked the fire in the room and got a quick knock-down on the flames which were rapidly consuming a futon-type bed in that room. Outside of the structure later arriving fire companies were securing a water source in case additional hose lines were going to be put into service, taking a back-up lead inside to protect the crews already inside, evaluating the structure's roof for laddering and possible vertical roof ventilation, and setting up the State mandated Rapid Intervention Team for possible fire fighter rescue. The fire was contained to the room of origin and the residents were finally located across the street at a neighbor's home. One of the residents had sustained some minor burn injuries while attempting to put the fire out before fire fighters arrived on scene. That tenant was treated at the scene by Fire Department Para-Medics and EMTs and was transported to a near-by Hospital by family members for further treatment. There were no reports of any other civilian injuries and there were no reports of any injuries to the fire fighters at the scene. The fire damages were confined to the room of origin and the contents of that room. There was some collateral damage to the interior of the home from the water used to extinguish the fire, and there was smoke damage to the rest of the building and to the contents therein. The cause of the fire is being investigated by members of the Spokane City Fire Dept. Special Investigations Unit. Fire fighters on scene noted that the residence did not have any smoke detectors present and before they left the scene they installed a working smoke detector for the safety of the residents.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Currently under investigation by SIU members.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Fire damage limited to room and contents, water damage to floors and floor coverings, smoke damage throughout the structure.
DOLLAR LOSS: 10,000.00
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
