Downtown fire and fatality.

South Battalion Fire Involving a Fatality

Incident #:  2012041831
Date of Incident:  9/26/2012
Issuing Officer:  AC Schaeffer
Narrative:
On Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 1:23 PM, eight companies of Spokane Firefighters, seven engines and one senior ladder under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Green and Fielder responded to a civilian fatality fire at 328 West 8th Avenue on Spokane's lower South Hill. Firefighters arrived quickly to discover light smoke showing from the west side of the four story apartment building. Additionally, as they were approaching the scene, they observed a civilian lying on the ground with bystanders performing CPR on the victim. The Chief arrived nearly simultaneously and ordered arriving resources (FD Paramedics) to treat the critical patient while sending other companies to supply the building's fire standpipe system and attack the fire. Companies had to use the external stairwells to evacuate occupants and used the internal stairs to deploy firefighters with their equipment. The first two fire companies reaching the fourth floor (Engine 11, Ladder 1) encountered smoke in both the stairwell and hallways; but despite the conditions, they were able to successfully locate the fire in unit 410. They successfully extinguished the fire in the apartment and limited their overhaul work to the immediate area in order to facilitate an investigation. Additional companies were used to evacuate occupants from the fourth and third floors as well as control the building's internal systems. The patient was resuscitated on scene and transported in critical condition to the closest trauma center for definitive treatment. Companies remained on scene assisting the SFD investigator and SPD Major Crimes for approximately an hour. Except for the aforementioned patient, there were no additional injuries to either civilians or to firefighters.
Cause:
Spokane Police Major Crimes and SFD's SIU are jointly investigating this incident. Preliminary information received thus far indicates that the victim (unknown adult female) was burned from a fire in the apartment and jumped from the west-facing window in unit 410. No other information is available and the next likely release will be from Police Major Crimes.
Damage:
Physical damage is minor and will not affect the remaining units on the fourth floor. Occupants will be allowed to return after the SPD investigation is completed.
# Firefighters Responding: 24
Dollar Loss: $1000

End Of Release
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