Southside house fire Press Release

At 10:42 A.M. on Friday, August 31st the Spokane Fire Department dispatched six engines, two ladder trucks, one heavy rescue truck, and two battalion chiefs to a reported house fire at 1914 E. Hartson Ave. The first engine on scene reported a single family one and one-half story wood frame house with heavy smoke and flames issuing from a side window on the main floor. Flames were also spreading up the exterior siding and extending through soffit vents into the attic. Fire attack was immediately initiated, as was a search of the house for any victims. No human victims were found, however, four dogs and two cats succumbed to the heat and smoke. One dog survived the fire with minor injuries. The occupant of the house arrived shortly after the fire was reported and confirmed to firefighters that there was no one in the house at that time. The fire on the main floor was quickly located in a bathroom and knocked down. The fire in the attic proved much more stubborn due to double thickness tongue and groove ceilings and walls, and extensive insulation, making access difficult. Crews had to use chainsaws to open up the roof and siding, as well as interior walls and ceilings to locate and extinguish the spreading fire. In all, 32 firefighters worked at this fire, with several crews remaining on scene for nearly four hours. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. While operations were in progress at this house fire, other Spokane Fire Department crews were dispatched to a severed natural gas line at 29th and Latawah. These simultaneous incidents stretched fire department resources thin as they continued to respond to the usual volume of medical and other calls.;For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002