Fire Press Release

South Battalion House Fire

Incident #: 2012028830
Date of Incident: 7/10/2012
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief

Narrative:
The Spokane City Fire Dept. responded fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 4204 E 3rd Ave. at 22:11 hrs on Tuesday evening, July 10th, to a reported structure fire at that address. As the fire crews were in route to this incident they reported by radio that they could see heavy smoke and an orange glow in the night- time sky so they requested an upgrade to a "working fire". This up-grade would add an additional fire apparatus to the incident. Once fire crews arrived on scene they reported that the fire was in the attached garage and moving quickly into the 2 story wood/frame house. Reports from neighbors indicated that the house was not occupied and the decision to make a defensive attack on the fire was made. Shortly after the Fire Dept.'s arrival the entire garage was consumed and heavy fire was moving into the building and destroying critical structural support members in the structure making it too dangerous to put fire crews inside. Multiple hose lines began applying large amounts of water on and into the building from the exterior resulting in a very effective knock down of the flames. There were no reports of injuries to any of the fire fighters at the scene. The building sustained heavy fire damage on the first and second floors, the lack of sheetrock on most of the interior walls of the building left the structural framing exposed to the rapidly growing fire inside. The Fire Dept. had a fire crew remain at the scene throughout the night hitting hot spots and cooling smoldering embers. The cause of this fire is currently being investigated by the Spokane City Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit. 5 engines, 1 senior ladder, 1 heavy rescue truck, and two Command Vehicles delivered 24 fire fighters to this incident.

Cause:
Under investigation.

Damage:
Garage portion of the structure was totally consumed. Very heavy fire damage to the first and second floors. Building may be too severly damaged to be salvaged.

# Firefighters Responding: 24

Dollar Loss: $75,000

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