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

Fire Press Release

North Battalion Apartment Fire

Incident #:  2012028613
Date of Incident:  7/9/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe
Narrative:
On Monday July 9th, 2012 at 6:19 PM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Bill Donahoe and Bruce Moline, responded to a Structure Fire at 1423 W. Mission. Upon arrival the first arriving Engine Company reported light smoke coming out of the roof and heavy smoke coming out of a second floor window. The Incident was upgraded to a working fire by the Battalion Chief who requested an additional Senior Ladder along with another Engine Company. Crews were assigned to fight the fire, ventilate the roof and search for occupants. The Fire was declared under control within 30 minutes with crews remaining on scene for another hour conducting overhaul and salvaging resident's belongings. All occupants made it out safely and there were no injuries to residents or firefighters.
Cause:
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Departments SIU.
Damage:
There is damage from the smoke and fire in the second floor apartment along with damage to the roof. The electrical wiring was affected by the fire and has been shut off by Avista. Seven adults and one child are displaced by the fire in this apartment building with two units. The Occupants are being housed by the Red Cross until repairs can be made and the utilities restored.
# Firefighters Responding: 27
Dollar Loss: $15,000.00

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

Fire Press Release

Indian Trail Neighborhood Residence Fire

Incident #: 2012028335
Date of Incident: 7/8/2012
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Sunday July 8, 2012 at 05:58 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Haworth, responded to a Structure Fire at 10310 North Woodridge Drive in Spokane's Indian Trail neighborhood. Firefighters from the neighborhood Fire Station arrived within 4-minutes to find heavy fire showing through the roof of a single family home which was built on a hillside and surrounded by a heavy wildland interface area. The incident was immediately upgraded to a working fire adding a second Senior Ladder Company and AMR Ambulance. Finding heavy fire in the home's ceilings and roof; and endangering the close wildland interface, initial arriving companies were forced to fight the fire from the exterior with large hose streams until additional personnel arrived and the fire was knocked down to allow entry to the residence's interior. Despite the intense flames reaching skyward and threatening adjacent large trees, firefighters worked skillfully to confine the blaze to the structure of fire origin, preventing it from consuming any more than one-third of the structure and limited wildland area. The well coordinated effort of firefighters confined flames to the building's common attic, extinguishing the blaze in just 2 hours. There were no injuries reported.

Cause:
The cause of the fire is under active investigation by the Fire Department's SIU.

Damage:
The residence was not occupied and listed for sale. Damage to the structure is significant and loss is currently being estimated and was not available at the time of this release.

# Firefighters Responding: 23

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