Fire Press Release

Kitchen Fire in North Side Home

Incident #: 2011051496
Date of Incident: 12/21/2011
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief

Narrative:
The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus Wednesday night, Dec. 21st, to 1010 E. Decatur at 23:12 hrs. to a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire company reported smoke issuing from the front door of a 1.5 story wood/frame dwelling. As other fire apparatus began arriving on scene, assignments were being made by the Incident Commander. Those assignments included advancing a charged hose line into the structure, horizontal and possible vertical ventilation of the building, searching for any victims on all the floors, securing a water supply, a back-up hose line to protect the firefighters who would be making initial entry into the building, and the formation of a Rapid Intervention Team who would be standing by to rescue any firefighter who might become injured, lost, or trapped inside the building. The combined efforts of the fire fighting crews at this fire kept the flames confined to the 1st floor kitchen area. Four Engines, one Ladder Truck, one Heavy Rescue Rig, and two Command Vehicles delivered 21 firefighters to the scene of this fire. The fire damage was limited to the 1st floor kitchen area of the structure, although there was smoke damage to most other areas of the first floor. The occupants of the home were able to safely exit their home at the time of the fire, however they will not be able to stay in the house because of the significant interior damage and because the utilities, gas and electricity, have been disconnected. There were no reports of any injuries to firefighters at the scene or to the residents of the building. A member of the Spokane City Fire Dept's Special Investigation Unit was at the fire and he began his investigation as soon as conditions inside the structure allowed him to safely enter.

Cause:
Under Investigation.

Damage:
Kitchen area of the first floor, smoke damage throughout the structure, ventilation holes cut into the roof.

# Firefighters Responding: 21

Dollar Loss: $20,000

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