Fire Press Release

Incident #: 2011043480
Date of Incident: 10/25/2011
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe

Narrative:
On Tuesday October 25th 2011 at 05:59 eight Companies of Spokane Firefighters, five engines, two senior ladders, one heavy rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Cornelius responded to a reported fire at the Liberty Motel. The first arriving company reported heavy flame involvement to the front half of a single story, wood framed motel. It appeared the fire had extended into the common attic of the five unit motel. Crews were assigned to attack the fire in the affected room and to search for extension of the fire in the adjacent motel rooms. Other crews were assigned to search all the units along with ventilating the roof of the structure. The three residents staying in the motel made it out safely. The Motel Manager received first and second degree burns to his arms and hands after attempting to put out the fire with an extinguisher. The patient was then transported to Holy Family Hospital. No injuries to Firefighters were reported. Crews remained on scene for approximately six hours overhauling the fire. All five units of the affected building will be uninhabitable until major repairs are made. However, the rest of the Motel complex is open for business.

Cause:
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's Special investigation Unit.

Damage:
There was extensive fire damage to the room of origin and the roof. The four surrounding motel units sustained damage to the ceilings while searching for extension of the fire in the attic area.

# Firefighters Responding: 28

Dollar Loss: $70,000

End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002