Fire Press Release Three Fer.

Thanksgiving Day fire damages house

Incident #: 2011047860
Date of Incident: 11/24/2011
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo

Narrative:
At 10:43 A.M. Thursday, November 24th, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported fire at 814 W. 17th Avenue, in the City of Spokane. The first fire company arrived on scene within three minutes and reported a two story wood frame house with smoke showing from the eaves and attic vents. The homeowner met the arriving fire crew and reported a fire in the attic. As fire crews advanced hose lines to the attic, others laddered the roof and cut holes to allow the heat and smoke to escape. The fire was located and knocked down within fifteen minutes, but overhaul of the burned and fire damaged areas continued for several hours. Damage to the house was confined to a 12' by 12' area in the attic, the roof above that area, and some contents stored in the attic. In addition, the house sustained minor smoke, and water damage on the second floor. Electrical wiring was also damaged. The two adult occupants will be unable to stay in the house until the wiring can be repaired. An investigator from the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit conducted an investigation to determine the fire's cause, but has not yet released his report. In all, twenty-six fire department personnel responded on seven trucks and two command vehicles. There were no injuries to the occupants or any of the firefighters.

Cause:
The cause of this fire is still under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit.

Damage:
Damage to the house and contents is estimated to be $10,000.

# Firefighters Responding: 26

Dollar Loss: $10,000

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

North Battalion Fire in Commercial Building

Incident #: 2011047869
Date of Incident: 11/24/2011
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Donahoe

Narrative:
On Thursday November 24th,2011 at 12:56 PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 5 engines, 1 Senior Ladder and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Sabo responded to a building fire at 2415 North Monroe. Police were on the scene and reported smoke emitting from a first floor open doorway of the story and a half commercial structure. Police also reported that 2 occupants were safely out of the building. North Battalion Chief Donahoe arrived first on scene and assigned companies to attack the fire, ventilate and search the structure for other possible occupants. Companies successfully located the fire in a room on the first floor and were able to confine it to the area of origin. After the rest of the building was searched it was confirmed only the two occupants had been in the building at the time of the fire. One twenty two year old male occupant did receive 1st degree burns to this forehead attempting to put out the fire with an extinguisher. The patient stated he would seek medical attention by private vehicle to Deaconess Emergency Room. No other injuries to civilians or Fire Fighters were reported. North and south bound traffic on Monroe Street was shut down for approximately one and a half hours until Fire Apparatus could be moved off the street.

Cause:
The cause is under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department

Damage:
Fire Damage to the first floor room of origin. A second floor exterior Wall was damaged checking for possible extension of the fire. Light smoke damage is also present to the first floor occupancy.

# Firefighters Responding: 23

Dollar Loss: $10,000.00

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

C' Shift's Third Working Fire

Incident #: 2011047952
Date of Incident: 11/25/2011
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Friday November 25, 2011 at 4:43 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue and 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Haworth, responded to a Structure Fire at 1001 North Elm in West Central Spokane. Spokane Firefighters arrived within 6-minutes to find heavy smoke showing from a second floor of a two-story wood-framed house converted to apartment building. A total of eight occupants were fortunately able to evacuate under the heavy smoke conditions as the first arriving companies were making entry into the building. Due to the structure's construction type and fire behavior, the incident was upgraded to a "working fire" adding an additional Senior Ladder, Engine and AMR ambulance at 4:52AM. Finding fire in the second floor attic, walls and roof, firefighters commenced quick fire attack operations on the second floor in coordination with vertical ventilation on the roof. The well coordinated effort of firefighters stopped the fire's advance and confined it to the attic and roof areas. The fire was extinguished in 90 minutes and overhaul is expected to continue throughout the morning hours today. There were no injuries reported from either residents or firefighters.

Cause:
The cause and circumstances are under investigation by the SFD and SPD.

Damage:
Though loss from the fire was limited to a total of one apartment unit on the second floor, the need to secure the structure's utilities rendered areas of the building untenable. A total of eight residents living in the affected residential apartment units were referred to the Inland NW Region of the Red Cross for interim placement assistance.

# Firefighters Responding: 27

Dollar Loss: $30000

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