WORKERS COMP UNDER ATTACK IN OLYMPIA!

URGENT Please call and/or e-mail Senator Brown NOW. As early as tomorrow she may accept a deal for Workers Comp that would include compromise and release and may also agree to take away any pension benefits for injured workers. Talking points and contact info is listed below.

Beth Thew

Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO

509-939-0688


Phone:(360) 786-7604

Email: Brown.Lisa@leg.WA.gov


Our Worker Comp system continues to come under attack from the business community! We need you to call – TODAY – to tell your legislators not to cut worker comp benefits!

We urge our legislators to reject attacks on our safety net which simply slash benefits rather than responsibly addressing our long-term disability problem by getting people back to work.

We have proven methods to help injured workers and reduce costs by providing quality medical care from the beginning of a claim (HB1869 and SB 5801).

We also support getting people back to work faster by providing a wage subsidy so small employers can bring injured workers back to light duty/transitional positions (HB 2002).

Do not put injured workers at risk. We urge you to oppose cutting people off long term disability at retirement age and to oppose turning our safety net into a lottery system weighted against injured workers by bringing any form of compromise and release to WA. (SB 5566)

BOYCOTT WISCONSIN GOVERNOR'S BOSSES!

This is circulating in the great state of Wisconsin.

Let's vote with our money.

These are Koch Brothers products and proceeds are being used against the workers of Wisconsin. Very important to distribute. This is what non-vocal people love to do. Boycott !!!!!!!!

Please send this on to everyone you know. Let the Koch brothers know that we understand what they're trying to do to Wisconsin!

“Boycott Koch Industry products:

(Georgia-Pacific products)
Angel Soft toilet paper
Brawny paper towels
Dixie plates, bowls, napkins and cups
Mardi Gras napkins and towels
Quilted Northern toilet paper
Soft 'n Gentle toilet paper
Sparkle napkins
Vanity fair napkins
Zee napkins
Georgia-Pa cific paper products and envelopes INVISTA Products Lycra Sta

http://www.boycottkochbrothers.com/

Local 29 Turns 93 Today!

Labor Rally Last Friday

It was cold!

Two-hundred or so union members and their supporters showed up to wave signs at the triangle where Ruby, Division and North River Drive come together. I couldn't believe how many drivers honked horns and waved back. It was great!

It's easy to forget that Spokane has the labor movement entrenched in its founding and growth. No surprise that as union membership dwindled in Spokane, so did the general prosperity of the city. Mining, timber, the railroads, and of course, aluminum built a Spokane with a thriving middle class.


You can look it up for yourself. The overall prosperity of the individual in this country reached its peak coincidentally with the peak of union participation. Although, there weren't as many billionaires, failed banks, investment scams, unemployed, and medical bankruptcies either. Hmmmm.


The Wobbly Free Speech Movement put Spokane on the map for showing how much the authorities despised unions and how willing they were to persecute them. Look at some of the old newspapers from the time. The Spokesman-Review led the pack, calling for violence and worse against union members. The governor in Wisconsin is resurrecting this spirit, in a way that I don't think even the most fascist-leaning, turn-of-the-century Spokanite would have bought into.


Let's see Governor Walker, you give tax breaks to your benefactors to put the state budget into the hole. This deficit allows you to conveniently blame union employees and their meager pensions for the problem and go after their money, their rights and their political clout. Sad that so many who have been chewed up and spit out by these same forces continue to cheer on those who destroyed them and gleefully anticipate destruction for those who have fought on their behalf. Unbelievable that there are voters in Wisconsin who look to failing (education, health, employment, finances, standard of living) states in the south as their new model because it fits their Koch-brother-sponsored talk-radio, FOX News ideology.


Here in Spokane, the first gathering of firefighters to organize a union resulted in an instantaneous firing of those members, almost a hundred years ago. In fact, Local 29 - The Spokane Fire Fighters' Union celebrates its 93 year year birthday tomorrow. It was one of the original founding locals of the International Association of Firefighters, hence the low number of "29." They are now up to Local 4780.



There was a small article in the Spokesman-Review yesterday about the rally. Thank you SR!

Don't forget - Rally Today!

Corner of Ruby, Division and N. River Drive

We Are Wisconsin from Finn Ryan on Vimeo.

Vote for Alex!

SFD Fire Equipment Operator Alex Mickschl entered a contest to become the next voice of Sparky the Fire Dog. Amazingly, Alex was selected as one of three national finalists. The winner will be determined by online voting between today and Friday. If Alex is selected, the SFD will receive public education materials from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) at NO COST. Because of the limited amount of time for voting, we could really use your help.



This week you, your friends and family can vote for their favorite. YOU CAN VOTE ONCE EACH DAY. We are asking for your support tp help us receive much needed public education materials. Visit the link below and cast your vote for Alex.





http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/93168/voteable_entries?view_entries=1

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Jones
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/23/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3425 W. Olympic Place
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 1:53 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 3425 W. Olympic Place. Eight fire apparatus under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Green responded to this location. This response included 3 engine companies, 1 heavy rescue, 2 ladder trucks, and 2 vehicles. Command engine 16 was first on scene and reported a single-family structure with light smoke showing from side Alpha. They also reported the residents of the structure were accounted for and located on the sidewalk in front of the residence. Fire crews from Engine 16 and Pumper Ladder Truck 13, responding from their neighborhood stations, quickly knocked down the fire that was located in the wall above the fireplace and checked for fire extension into the attic. Other apparatus on scene were assigned to various duties such as Safety, RIT, Water Supply, Search, and Ventilation. There were no injuries to civilians or Fire Fighters on this response.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Cause of this fire was determined to be a defective fireplace.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Wall above fireplace.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/20/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1910 W Bridge
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their fire apparatus to 1910 W. Bridge at 20:04 hrs. on Sunday, February 20th, 2011, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire companies, E4 and L4 from the Browne's Addition neighborhood Fire Station, reported heavy fire showing from a second floor window of a 2 story wood/frame residence at the very front of the building. The crew of E4 quickly donned their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and immediately went to the front door with a charged hose lead and proceeded to force entry into the locked structure. Once inside they made their way to the interior stairway and up the stairs to the second floor where they encountered the hot and rapidly growing fire that by now was burning freely in a large open room. As they were putting water on the fire upstairs, other arriving crews were outside laddering the building and scaling the sharply sloped roof in order to cut a hole over where the main body of fire was burning to allow the pent-up heat and toxic gases to vent into the cold night air. Additional hose lines were stretched into the building to provide protection for the initial interior attack crew and to assist in the actual extinguishment of the fire. Other fire crews were searching the interior of the structure and to everyone's relief those crews reported that the house was vacant and that it appeared to be in the process of being remodeled. Still other crews were sent inside the building to pull the ceilings on the second floor to get access to the fire that had spread into the attic space between the second floor ceiling and the underside of the roof. All of these necessary and well-coordinated efforts came together and achieved a fairly rapid knock-down of this fire. There were no reports of any serious injuries to any of the fire fighters at the scene. The fire was contained to the second floor, to the attic space, and to some of the structural members of the roof. The cause of this fire is currently being investigated by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit. Fire crews were kept on scene all through the night on "fire watch" to keep an eye on the scene until the investigators could take a look at the structure in the light of day. 33 fire fighters arrived at this fire on 9 pieces of fire fighting apparatus including 5 engines, 2 senior ladder trucks, 1 pumper-ladder truck, 1 heavy rescue apparatus, and 2 command vehicles.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Under investigation.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy fire damage to the second floor, the attic space, and to some of the structural components of the roof system.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 33
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

worker solidarity rally

Spokane, WA
Friday, February 25 . 4:30pm-5:30pm. Corner of Ruby, Division and North River Drive in front of Wendy’s Restaurant

People from all over the world are helping feed union demonstrators in Madison!

From Cairo to Madison, some pizza

By MEREDITH SHINER | 2/20/11 4:05 PM EST

MADISON, Wis. — Someone in Egypt has been paying attention to what’s happening in Madison and wanted to send a message of solidarity from across the globe — so they ordered a pizza.

It might seem like a small gesture, but it’s overwhelming to the staff at Ian’s on State Street — a campus staple mere blocks from the Capitol — where in the last few days, they’ve fielded calls from concerned citizens of 14 countries, and all 50 states and the District of Columbia looking to donate money to provide free pizza to the Wisconsinites who have congregated here.

On Saturday alone, Ian’s gave away 1,057 free slices in their store and delivered more than 300 pizzas to the Capitol itself.

By 2 p.m. local time Sunday, they’d given away 351 slices and sent countless other full pies to the rotunda, where protesters have been gathering since well before noon. As a few locals stood waiting for their slices, an Ian’s staffer went to the chalkboard hanging behind the register and wrote, “Turkey” in big block letters and co-workers expressed a sense of disbelief.

“I don’t think we started it,” said Ryan O’Connor, a sophomore at a local technical school who works the register at Ian’s. “We made a post to our Facebook page because of the volume of calls we already had been getting unprompted.”

O’Connor said Ian’s got its first call Thursday when a mother of a University of Wisconsin student called and offered to donate $200 to help feed the people her daughter told her had flooded the Capitol. Since then, the outpouring of money from all over the world has put the pizza-makers into overdrive.

The blackboard behind the counter lists the “countries donating” as “Korea, Finland, New Zealand, Egypt, Denmark, Australia, US, Canada, Germany, China, England, Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy” and has the abbreviations for all 50 states listed below, with donating states circled.

The small pizza chain with locations in Madison and Chicago has been using Facebook and Twitter to take what started as one phone call and make it into an international movement. Saturday night, the State Street location was so overwhelmed by orders it had to cease its delivery operations. But employees still are finding time to update the restaurant’s social media pages to keep the pizza revolution going and share with the world their chalkboard progress.

“This is astounding!” Ian’s posted Saturday to Twitter.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49888.html#ixzz1Ei2sLPN0

IAFF Pension Infomercial

Wisconsin workers protest Tea Party governor's attempt to scrap collective bargaining.

Click on the title above or here for coverage on this. You probably won't hear much about it from the corporate news media.

The same people that we bailed out, the same people who created such economic woes for states are now owning the people running some of of the states. They are taking the money we gave them to fund a fight against us. Organized labor has always been the enemy to these folks. They used their tax breaks in the 1980s to destroy organized labor in the private workforce by moving jobs to China. Now they are using the windfall we gave them to destroy organized labor in the public sector. Wisconsin is the birthplace of collective bargaining. There is little doubt that we could be facing the same battle here.

These folks will not be happy until all workers are little more than slaves. And in many states, they have bought themselves a government to make it happen. This IAFF spot says it best:

Happy 46th Anniversary, Jack!

Jack Greenamyer's 46th SFD anniversary is today. Congrats Jack!

Ed Schultz stands up for firefighters.

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Clive Jones
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/6/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 15 Wast Cortland
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Sunday February 6th, 2011 at16:35 hours the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 15 West Courtland. The Spokane Fire Department responded two senior ladders, two engine companies, one pumper ladder, and one heavy rescue unit along with two Battalion Chiefs. The first arriving apparatus was SL2 and reported light smoke showing on the back side of the structure. SL2 entered the structure and quickly located the cause which was a small attic fire. It was extinguished with a hose lead from SE3. PL13 along with SL2 pulled ceiling to expose any areas where the fire may have extended. No extension of the fire was found, and all fire companies were returned in service.

PROBABLE CAUSE: At this time, the cause is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Departments Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The structure suffered a loss of $4,000 in damages.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

New Post on "Local 29 Unfiltered."

Under Members' only. 2011 WSCFF Legislative Conference. Also sent to your personal emails.

New model for curtailing ER transports and visits?

We are at the front lines of providing health care for some of the poorest and sickest people in Spokane. We know there has to be a better way to help someone who has had a cold for three days then having them call 9-1-1 to secure ambulance transport to the ER.

Sometimes we might think we are alone in facing this predicament, but communities all over our nation are seeing the same thing. In Camden NJ, studies showed that one percent of the population was responsible for 30% of medical costs. This article in the New Yorker tells the stories of physicians and other health care professionals who are tackling the problem. Some of the conclusions they have come to are counter-intuitive, but seem to work.

From health coaches and teaching people how to cook their own meals to institutionalizing patients unable to care for themselves, the responses to the problem are diverse. Here are a few tidbits, if you don't have time to read the story:

Brenner and his team are out there on the boulevards of Camden demonstrating the possibilities of a strange new approach to health care: to look for the most expensive patients in the system and then direct resources and brainpower toward helping them.

“Take two ten-year-old boys with asthma,” he said. “From a disease standpoint, they’re exactly the same cost, right? Wrong. Imagine one of those kids never fills his inhalers and has been in urgent care with asthma attacks three times over the last year, probably because Mom and Dad aren’t really on top of it.” That’s the sort of patient Gunn uses his company’s medical-intelligence software program to zero in on—a patient who is sick and getting inadequate care. “That’s really the sweet spot for preventive care,” Gunn said.

The critical flaw in our health-care system that people like Gunn and Brenner are finding is that it was never designed for the kind of patients who incur the highest costs.

For a pedestrian hit by a minivan, there’s nowhere better than an emergency room. But these institutions are vastly inadequate for people with complex problems: the forty-year-old with drug and alcohol addiction; the eighty-four-year-old with advanced Alzheimer’s disease and a pneumonia; the sixty-year-old with heart failure, obesity, gout, a bad memory for his eleven medications, and half a dozen specialists recommending different tests and procedures. It’s like arriving at a major construction project with nothing but a screwdriver and a crane.

The Hot Spotters

Can we lower medical costs by giving the neediest patients better care?

by Atul Gawand

2011 IAFF ALTS G.P. Schaitberger Address

A glimpse into some of the challenges and threats that loom ahead!

New "Members Only" Section on Local 29 website.

There is a new section on our website called LOCAL 29 UNFILTERED. You can think of it as a holding pen for possible upcoming WORKER articles. Unfiltered and unedited, you can read most of the newsletter now, weeks before the "polished" article appears in the newsletter. A lot of the stuff (like the newsletter) is probably only going to interest Local 29 members, so it's under the Members Only section.

Bridget Luby has written a great article on The Attic Gym and her experience with Crossfit. Check it out!

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bill Donahoe Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 1/23/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3315 South Fiske
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99223

NARRATIVE: On Sunday, January 23rd, 2011 at 21:10, the Spokane Fire Dept responded one senior ladder, three engine companies, one pumper ladder and one heavy rescue along with two Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 3315 South Fiske Street. The first arriving engine company from Station 14 in the Lincon Heights neighborhood arrived on scene and reported a single family split level home with smoke showing out of the front door. Engine 14 then reported that all of the occupants were out of the home and accounted for. They then advanced a hose lead into the basement and made a quick attack on the fire. The additional crews searched for extension of the fire and ventilated the structure. The five occupants are displaced until the fire and smoke damage can be rectified

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department.

DAMAGE EXTENT: The structure sustained fire damage to the basement and smoke damage throughout the building.
DOLLAR LOSS: 15,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 21
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Wacky Letter to the Editor Last Week and a response which the Spokesman-Review wouldn't print.

The Letter:

Pass the Boot

The next time I am hung up at an intersection by Spokane’s firefighters during their “Pass the Boot Campaign,” I will remember your Jan. 9 story by Jonathan Brunt.

These (sic) civil servants need the “Boot,” they shouldn’t be having their underlings passing it to us looking for handouts.

This disgraceful situation is befitting of Bell, Calif., not Spokane. I can’t think of one reason why we need these individuals. We can’t afford them. Perhaps we should become the largest city in America with a volunteer fire department. Our insurance rates wouldn’t increase more than we are being taken for by these (sic) chiefs.

Bart Needham

Spokane

The unprinted response:

Sheesh

Bart Needham, in a January 16th letter to the editor, begins his anti-firefighter prose by implying that the “Pass the Boot Campaign” is a vehicle for Spokane’s firefighters to collect money to give to Spokane’s fire chiefs. Actually, the event is called “Fill the Boot” and the money collected from thousands of very kind motorists goes to help local children suffering from muscular dystrophy.

The remainder of his screed continues and concludes with the same degree of bias and inaccuracy.

John Griffith

Spokane

Fire Press Release Two Fer

ISSUING OFFICER: Dave Haworth/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 1/15/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1107 W Fredrick Ave
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Jan 15, at 12:39 AM, the Spokane Fire Department responded 3 engines, 1 senior ladder, 1 pumper-ladder, 1 heavy rescue, and 2 battalion chiefs to a reported structure fire at 1107 W Fredrick. The calling party had reported he had a kitchen fire and the house was rapidly filling with smoke. PL13, which is located in the North Hill neighborhood, arrived within 4 minutes and reported smoke coming from the single family residence. PL13 quickly advanced a preconnected hose line off their apparatus and attacked the kitchen fire. Other companies arrived, and after confirming all occupants were out of the structure, began efforts to remove the smoke and check to see if the fire had extended into the attic. Their coordinated efforts kept the fire confined to the kitchen which sustained heavy damage with smoke damage throughout the rest of the residence. The tenent will be staying with relatives.There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Unattended cooking on the stove
DAMAGE EXTENT: The kitchen sustained heavy damage with smoke damage throughout the residence.
DOLLAR LOSS: 10000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 21
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

ISSUING OFFICER: Craig Cornelius / Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 1/10/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 606 S. Scott
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: On Sunday January 9th, 2011 at 22:46 hours the Spokane Fire Department responded to a house fire located at 606 S. Scott St. The first crews on the scene were from fire station 7 located at 1st and Magnolia. E7 reported a 1 ½ story wood frame residential with noting showing. Crews found a smoldering fire in one of the interior walls. The fire was quickly extinguished and confined to the wall of origin. The fire appears to have been caused by an overloaded electrical wire. There were no reported injuries at this incident.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Electrical
DAMAGE EXTENT: One interior wall and electrical service.
DOLLAR LOSS: 1800
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release Two Fer

ISSUING OFFICER: Craig Cornelius / Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 1/10/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 606 S. Scott
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: On Sunday January 9th, 2011 at 22:46 hours the Spokane Fire Department responded to a house fire located at 606 S. Scott St. The first crews on the scene were from fire station 7 located at 1st and Magnolia. E7 reported a 1 ½ story wood frame residential with noting showing. Crews found a smoldering fire in one of the interior walls. The fire was quickly extinguished and confined to the wall of origin. The fire appears to have been caused by an overloaded electrical wire. There were no reported injuries at this incident.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Electrical
DAMAGE EXTENT: One interior wall and electrical service.
DOLLAR LOSS: 1800
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

ISSUING OFFICER: Joel Fielder/ Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 1/4/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2428 North Hogan
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP:

NARRATIVE: On Tuesday January 4, 2011 the Spokane Fire Department responded at approximately 8:49 PM to 2428 N. Hogan on a reported structure fire. The first crew on-scene reported smoke coming from the eaves and fire showing from a window on the 2nd floor of a 1-1/2-story, wood framed house. An aggressive interior attack by on scene fire crews confined the majority of the fire to the upstairs bedroom. The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes and there were no reported injuries to firefighters. One civilian was transported to a local hospital with smoke inhalation and minor burns to her hand.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit. Preliminary investigation indicates the fire may have been started by a 5 year old boy playing with an unattended candle. Further investigation is needed.

The Spokane Fire Department would like to stress the importance of having properly working smoke detectors through-out your house. Early fire detection is one of the key factors for life safety.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Fire and smoke damage was confined to the upstairs bedroom and living area
DOLLAR LOSS: 15000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 27
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

E-Board Election Results

Congrats to Thad Frater and Jason Archibald for their reelection/election to the Local 29 E-Board. For specifics, check your e-mail.

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo
DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/10/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3919 S. Tekoa St.
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99223

NARRATIVE: At 0330 this morning, Friday, December 10, 2010, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 3919 S. Tekoa St. The first crew on-scene reported a heavy volume of fire visible at the rear of the single story house. Fire was also beginning to extend to the semi-detached garage. The first fire crew extended hoses to the rear of the structure and began knocking down the exterior fire. Unfortunately, fire had already extended into the attic and was burning through the roof. As other crews arrived on-scene they began the process of searching for victims, interior fire attack, roof ventilation, and opening ceilings to access the fire. The adult female occupant and her young daughter had escaped the house prior to arrival of the fire crews. As firefighting operations were in full swing, power lines to the house dropped and electrically energized the metal rain gutters, causing one firefighter to receive a shock. He reported no lasting ill effects and continued working at the scene. Due to the energized rain gutters, efforts to extinguish the fire from the roof were delayed until Avista arrived to disconnect power servicing the house. Once crews were able to return to the roof, a coordinated extinguishment effort from the roof and from the interior resulted in a successful knockdown of the attic fire. Crews remained on-scene for nearly four hours completing the extensive overhaul, which included cutting away and removal of nearly half of the roof structure.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Damage to the structure was extensive, including removal of a large portion of the roof. There was no interior fire damage, but there was extensive water, smoke, and overhaul damage. The occupants will be unable to live at the house until extensive repairs are made.
DOLLAR LOSS: 80,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 27
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

In time for the Holidays. New Local 29 clothing items!

Come down to the union office to buy some new Local 29 threads, man. Call ahead to make sure someone is there first. These may be door busters but don't bust the door, buster.

Check out the hip new designs! All made in the USA, of course, so you will spread holiday cheer without the nagging "gosh, how can I be having fun when I know my shirt was made by slaves" feeling.

Deck the halls now! Bow to the Holly! Doooooooo ittttttttttttttt!!!!!

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Brian Schaeffer
DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/5/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1906 West Pacific Avenue
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: On Sunday December 5, 2010 at 6:13PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue and 2-Senior Ladders under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Sabo and Haworth responded to a reported apartment fire at 1906 West Pacific Avenue.

The first company arrived within 3 minutes and reported a two-story apartment with smoke and fire showing from the front of the building. Ladder Companies were utilized to gain access to the affected unit and immediately searched for victims while other companies confined the fire to the unit of origin. It took 24 Firefighters working in frozen conditions just 15 minutes to locate and knock down the fire and control the incident. Firefighters were able to contain the damage to one unit and prevent it from spreading into the adjoining unit and roof and ceiling areas.

No civilians were injured in the incident; however one firefighter was treated by on-scene Firefighter/Paramedics for a medical emergency and transported to a local hospital definitive treatment.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause of this incident remains under investigation.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Firefighters have remained on scene protecting the homeowners belongings from additional damage during the salvage and overhaul operations. One unit was damaged due to the fire and another which is located directly below received damage from water.
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 24
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/2/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2015 W. Mansfield
CITY: Spokane,
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their fire apparatus to 2015 W. Mansfield at 12:11 hrs. on Thursday, Dec. 2nd, 2010, on a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire companies, E4 and L4 from the Browne's Addition neighborhood Fire Station, reported smoke showing out of the gable vents at the front and the rear of the house. They quickly donned their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and immediately entered the building with a charged hose lead to try and locate the source of the increasing smoke. While those two fire companies went about their work inside the structure other arriving fire crews were given additional assignments that included: securing a water supply, interior search and rescue, roof ventilation, opening walls and ceilings on the second floor, shutting down the electric and gas utilities, covering furniture on both floors with protective tarps, and deploying the Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) for fire fighter safety. The source of the smoke was found to be a smoldering type fire which had been burning undetected in the attic space below the roof. The fire appeared to have been burning for quite a while in the attic since some of the structural members in the attic and under the roof had been burned half way through. In order to get at this stubborn fire the fire fighters had to cut open the ceiling and the walls of the apartment on the second floor and they had to remove much of the still smoldering insulation in the attic and dump it outside of the building. There were no reports of any injuries to the tenant of the second floor apartment or to any of the fire fighters at the scene. The tenant of the first floor apartment was away at work when the fire occurred. Red Cross was requested to the scene to assist the tenant on the first floor and her three young children with temporary lodging. The two apartments will not be able to be occupied until substantial structural and electrical repairs can be made to the upper unit. Fire damage at this building was confined to the attic space and some of the ceilings and walls of the second floor apartment. Smoke damage was limited to the top floor apartment. The first floor apartment was not damaged. Thirty one fire fighters were delivered to this fire scene by four engines, two senior ladder trucks, one pumper ladder, one heavy rescue apparatus, and three Command Vehicles. The cause of this fire is being investigated by members of the Spokane Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit (SI

PROBABLE CAUSE: Currently under investigation by members of the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane City Fire Dept.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Considerable fire damage to the second floor apartment and the attic as well as the underside of the roof.
DOLLAR LOSS: 20,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 31
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/24/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 543 E Princeton
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99207

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 543 E. Princeton at 23:25 hrs. on November 24th, 2010, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire company, from the Hillyard neighborhood, reported light smoke issuing from above the closed front door and the roof overhang. As that company was entering the unlocked structure to begin an investigation, other apparatus began arriving on scene to assist them. Two fire crews then began an interior search of the building looking for any occupants who might be inside and attempting to locate the source of the increasing smoke. After a minute or two the crews inside reported by radio that they had located a room toward the rear of the house where they were encountering a lot of heat and heavier smoke. While one of the interior fire crews continued searching for possible victims, the other crew attacked the fire in the room and got a quick knock-down on the flames which were rapidly consuming a futon-type bed in that room. Outside of the structure later arriving fire companies were securing a water source in case additional hose lines were going to be put into service, taking a back-up lead inside to protect the crews already inside, evaluating the structure's roof for laddering and possible vertical roof ventilation, and setting up the State mandated Rapid Intervention Team for possible fire fighter rescue. The fire was contained to the room of origin and the residents were finally located across the street at a neighbor's home. One of the residents had sustained some minor burn injuries while attempting to put the fire out before fire fighters arrived on scene. That tenant was treated at the scene by Fire Department Para-Medics and EMTs and was transported to a near-by Hospital by family members for further treatment. There were no reports of any other civilian injuries and there were no reports of any injuries to the fire fighters at the scene. The fire damages were confined to the room of origin and the contents of that room. There was some collateral damage to the interior of the home from the water used to extinguish the fire, and there was smoke damage to the rest of the building and to the contents therein. The cause of the fire is being investigated by members of the Spokane City Fire Dept. Special Investigations Unit. Fire fighters on scene noted that the residence did not have any smoke detectors present and before they left the scene they installed a working smoke detector for the safety of the residents.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Currently under investigation by SIU members.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Fire damage limited to room and contents, water damage to floors and floor coverings, smoke damage throughout the structure.
DOLLAR LOSS: 10,000.00
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/22/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1923 E. 6th
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99202

NARRATIVE: On Monday November 22nd, 2010 at 6:16 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded on a house fire located at 1923 E. 6th. First crews on the scene found a large wood frame home, 1 ½ stories tall with flames and smoke coming from the rear. Based on this information, the alarm was upgraded to a "working fire" which brought an additional company of firefighters. An offensive strategy was declared and crews moved in to investigate the source of the fire. While this was taking place, ventilation crews were busy accessing the roof in preparation of vertical roof ventilation. A search team was assembled along with a backup crew and a floor by floor search was executed. The flames were discovered to be in a wall and also in the attic space. Aggressive roof ventilation by ladder crews helped confine the fire while the fire attack teams below with hose lines, pike poles and axes effectively knocked down the fire. The ladder crews cut holes over the fire area which drew the fire inward and prevented any further horizontal travel of the fire throughout the attic. The search team completed their task and reported that all occupants were out of the home, safely. There was one tenant that occupied the home and this person will be taken care of by friends and relatives. The knockdown of the fire was achieved 28 minutes after receiving the alarm. A total of 29 firefighters responded on this fire and some of them will remain on the scene throughout the day completing their final overhaul work on the building. The cause of this fire is unknown at this time but is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Unknown at this time. Under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy damage to the home's attic and roof including ceilings, walls, and furnishings.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 29
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release Two fer

ISSUING OFFICER: AC Brian Schaeffer
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/11/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Multiple Alarms
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 840 West Cora Avenue
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 12:06 AM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 2 Senior Ladders, 1 Pumper-Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 3 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Cornelius, responded to a Structure Fire at 840 West Cora Avenue in Northwest Spokane. Spokane Firefighters arrived quickly to find heavy smoke and fire showing from the third floor of a three-story apartment building containing 12 living units and office space. The first arriving Chief requested a second alarm at 12:11 AM that brought three engines, a Senior Ladder and two AMR Ambulances with an AMR Supervisor to the scene. A third alarm was requested at 12:19 AM adding two additional Engines and off-duty command staff.

Finding a working fire in two units and the attic space, firefighters commenced swift salvage operations to protect personal property by deploying tarpaulins within the structure and making judicious use of firefighting hose streams to stop the fire's progress. Pumper Ladder 13 immediately laddered the roof and created a trench cut above and next to the apartments involved in fire. The well coordinated effort of the firefighters confined flames to the building's common attic, extinguishing the blaze in just 1 hour. There were no injuries reported from either residents or firefighters.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The fire's cause remains under investigation.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Though loss from the fire was limited to a total of three apartment units and some office area, the need to secure the building's utilities rendered areas of the building temporarily untenable. A total of three families living in the affected residential apartment units were referred to the American Red Cross for interim placement assistance.

DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 52
MUTUAL AID: Fire District 1, Fire District 9

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at http://www.spokanefire.blogspot.com/

END OF RELEASE

ISSUING OFFICER: Joel Fielder/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/10/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 619 E. Rowan
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP:

NARRATIVE: Yesterday, November 9, 2010, the Spokane Fire Department responded at approximately 10:37 PM to 619 E. Rowan on a reported structure fire with flames showing from the house. The first crew on-scene reported smoke and fire showing at the front of the one story, wood framed home. Fire fighters aggressively attacked the fire from the front of the structure while additional fire crews completing search and rescue, roof ventilation and salvage and overhaul. The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes and there were no reported injuries to firefighters. The home, which was vacant at the time of the fire sustained fire damage to the front bedroom of the home with smoke damage through out the structure. Seven fire companies with 20 Firefighters and 2 Chief Officers responded to this fire and were on scene for approximately 1.5 hours. Fire crews remained on scene through out the night to assist the fire investigator in determining the origin and cause of the fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause of the fire is under investigation by Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Fire damage was confined to the main floor and crawl space of the home with smoke damage through out the rest of the structure.
DOLLAR LOSS: 20000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bill Donahoe/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/8/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1819 W. Rockwell
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Monday November 8th, at 01:25 AM, the Spokane Fire Dept. responded 4 engines, 1 ladder company, 1 heavy rescue along with 2 Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 1819 W. Rockwell. Engine 13, from the North Hill neighborhood was first on the scene and reported light smoke coming from the front door of the split level home. E-13's officer also reported the 3 occupants were accounted for and outside the home. The fire was located in the kitchen and was quickly extinguished. Other crews were assigned to check for extension of the fire and to ventilate the structure. There was extensive fire damage to the kitchen and light to moderate smoke damage throughout the home. The 3 residents are residing elsewhere because of the smoke damage. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Spokane Fire Dept Special Investigation Unit. There were no injuries reported by the occupants or firefighters.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Unknown at this time. Being investigated by The Spokane Fire Dept Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Extensive damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the home.
DOLLAR LOSS: 10,000.00
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release Three fer

ISSUING OFFICER: AC Brian Schaeffer
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/3/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Multiple Alarms
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1302 South Westcliff Place
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99224

NARRATIVE: On Tuesday November 2, 2010, at 10:11PM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 3 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, 2 Senior Ladders, under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Cornelius and Jones responded to a Structure Fire at 1302 South Westcliff Place in West Spokane (Indian Canyon Apartments).

Responding to an initial report of a car fire, the first company arrived within 7-minutes to find several vehicles and a garage well involved, with flames rapidly extending to nearby automobiles and an adjacent 2 story apartment building.

As additional personnel were summoned, firefighters established a water supply and commenced a swift and well-coordinated attack on the flames. A second alarm was requested at 10:25 primarily due to lack of access for equipment, water supply and the projection of the fire threatening nearby structures. As additional resources arrived companies were utilized to protect residential belongings in nearby apartment buildings and limit the spread of fire from the primary apartments and well-involved garage.

Due to the quick knock-down by the first alarm companies, the second alarm resources were cancelled while enroute and utilized for City coverage and handled other simultaneous incidents. No injuries were reported in this incident.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The fire's origin was isolated to a vehicle parked minutes earlier at the garage/carport location. The specific cause of the fire has yet to be determined by Spokane Fire Department's SIU.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The effort proved synergistic, with the flames extinguished in just 20 minutes. Damage was limited to multiple unoccupied vehicles, garages, and a portion of two apartments with smoke impacting two adjacent dwelling units.

DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 24
MUTUAL AID: Fire District 10

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

ISSUING OFFICER: AC Brian Schaeffer
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/2/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Multiple Alarms
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 607 East Houston
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99208

NARRATIVE: On Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 3:31PM, 8 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 5 engines, 1 Pumper-Ladder, 1 Senior Ladder and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Green and Moline responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 607 East Houston in Spokane's North Side. Firefighters responding to a report of a fire in an apartment arrived within 4-minutes from the neghborhood fire station to find heavy fire showing from the second and third story of a 70' x 100' three story apartment building. Swiftly forcing entry into multiple apartments and assisting occupants to safety, Spokane Firefighters commenced a well-coordinated search of the apartments in close proximity to the working fire on the second and third floors. A second alarm was issued a 3:40PM and subsequent third alarm at 4:01PM that brought an additional three Engines, two Senior Ladders and off-duty command staff.

Finding heavy fire in two floors and the attic/roof, arriving firefighters commenced an aggressive fire attack to protect savable property by cutting multiple ventilation holes on the roof above the fire and a defensive truck company tactic called a "trench cut." The trench cut was made ahead of the fire's route of travel in an effort to prevent lateral spread throughout the remainder of the building. Firefighters from engine companies were working on the interior of the second and third floors making judicious use of firefighting hosestreams and completely pulling the ceilings directly below the trench and stretching additional lines to key locations below the trench. The well coordinated effort of firefighters confined flames to the building's south-most areas and common attic, extinguishing the blaze in just 2-hours. There were no injuries to firefighters and one civilian was transported for smoke inhalation.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause is under investigation by the Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The south-most areas of the building are severely damaged. Other areas received varying levels of damage. In all, there are 29 apartment units and 54 individuals residing in the building. Six units were destroyed, eleven suffered major damage, four had minor damage and eight are undamaged. The building has no power and building is posted not to occupy. The Red Cross initially opened a shelter at the Spokane Friends Church (1612 W. Dalke) and are assisting the tenants with temporary housing and assistance.
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 48
MUTUAL AID: Fire District 1, Fire District 9

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Clive Jones
DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/2/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3008 N. Perry
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99207

NARRATIVE: On Tuesday, November 02, 2010 at 12:49 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 3008 N. Perry. Eight fire apparatus under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Brown responded to this location. This response included 4 engine companies, 1 heavy rescue, and 2 ladder trucks. Ladder 2 was the first to arrive and reported a four-plex residential structure with fire showing from the out side of the structure. One auto was fully involved that was parked next to the building was also reported by ladder 2. Responding from their neighborhood station at North Foothills Dr. and Nevada, ladder 2 assumed fire attack and quickly extinguished the fire. Other apparatus on scene were assigned to various duties such as Safety, RIT, Water Supply, Search, and Ventilation. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. Total of 22 firefighters responded to this fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE:
Under investigation.

DAMAGE EXTENT:
Fire was confined to the out side of the structure and one automobile

DOLLAR LOSS: 5,000.
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Full page ad in this morning's paper from Dino Rossi's people tells us how he feels about firefighters and our union....

This full-page ad is from an anonymous well-funded PAC that wants to put Dino Rossi in office. You can see why from the ad. And if you need it spelled out - the reason why is YOU.

These folks who are supporting Rossi think you make too much money, have too safe of working conditions, and are underworked - all this from collective bargaining which Rossi and other Republicans would like to undo and keep others from having.

If you are a firefighter and you haven't decided who to vote for in the senate race, this ad in this morning's Spokesman-Review might give you something to think about.

Patty Murray has always been a supporter of firefighters and our union. Dino Rossi wants to take away our collective bargaining rights and all that they have done for us. And he and his friends are proud to tell you that is exactly what they intend on doing.

Good luck deciding on who to vote for.

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/20/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2709 W Broadway
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Department dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 2709 W Broadway at 05:57 hrs in the early morning of Wednesday, October 20th, for a reported house fire. The first arriving fire crews, from the historic Browne's Addition neighborhood, reported a 1.5 story wood/frame dwelling with lazy smoke issuing from the roof and a dormer window. While additional resources were nearing the house, those initial crews were entering the building to determine what was causing the smoke and where the source of the smoke was located. The crews discovered a smoldering type fire located in the ceiling space above the kitchen area. With fully charged hose lines in place inside the dwelling the crews began pulling down the ceilings in not only the kitchen but also in adjacent rooms to get at the slow moving fire that had already done considerable damage to the structural components of the ceiling and the underside of the roof. It took about 20 minutes for the initial crews and some of the later arriving crews to dig out the fire and to get it fully extinguished. There were no reports of any injuries to the fire fighters at the scene or to the owner of the home. The owner was awakened by a loud noise from the kitchen, discovered a ceiling fixture which had fallen to the floor, noticed a bright orange glow coming from the hole left in the ceiling by the fallen fixture, called the Fire Dept. for assistance, and then safely exited her home. Unfortunately there will have to be extensive repairs done to the structure before it can be occupied again, the owner has indicated that she will be staying with friends and/or family until those repairs can be made. Initial indications are that the fire was electrical in nature and an investigator from the City Fire Dept.'s Special Investigation Unit arrived on scene to pin point the exact nature of the possible electrical malfunction. Three pumpers, two ladder trucks, a heavy rescue apparatus, and two Command vehicles delivered 22 firefighters to the scene of this fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Unknown electrical type of malfunction in the building's electrical system.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Considerable damage to the structural mebers of the ceiling and the underside of the roof above the kitchen area, smoke damage throughout the structure.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Fire Press Release Three fer

ISSUING OFFICER: AC Brian Schaeffer
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/19/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2230 West Pacific Avenue
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: On Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 3:38 PM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters; 3 Engines, 1 Pumper-Ladder, 1 Senior Ladder and 1 Heavy rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Moline and Green responded to a structure fire at 2230 West Pacific Avenue.

Firefighters responding to a garage fire were notified by multiple callers that fire and heavy smoke was emanating from an adjacent apartment complex's garage structure. A nearby SFD unit arrived within four minutes and reported that a two-story, multiple vehicle garage was heavily involved with fire and endangering nearby apartment buildings to the east and west of the fire building. The alarm was upgraded to a "working fire" which automatically adds an additional fire company and other FD resources to the incident.

Due to a nearly simultaneous incident at 3rd/Maple where a vehicle was involved in fire and thought to have two-persons trapped, the normally nearby fire companies were not available causing farther stations to respond to this incident. The simultaneous incidents led to a longer than expected delay and extremely rapid fire growth.

Once an effective firefighting force was on-scene, firefighters swiftly forced entry into areas of the multiple garage building and made a coordinated offensive attack on the fire with aggressive vertical ventilation by ladder companies. After a complete search of the building, it was determined that there were no occupants present on either floor. The fire was completely extinguished within 30-minutes. There were no civilians or firefighters injured during this incident.

PROBABLE CAUSE: The cause is under investigation by the SFD's Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Four vehicles were destroyed and the eight bay garage sustained varied levels of damage. Structural integrity is still being assessed at the time of this release.
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 27
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/18/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3125 W. 14th Ave.
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99204

NARRATIVE: On Monday October 18th, at 1:55pm the Spokane Fire Department responded 3 engines, 1 senior ladder, 1 pumper ladder, 1 heavy rescue and 2 Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 3125 West 14th. The first crew on scene reported a split entry home with light smoke showing from the front door. The homeowner met the crew and reported all the occupants had safely evacuated the house. Hose leads were advanced into the home and a thermal imaging camera was utilized to locate the fire in the basement laundry room. The fire was quickly extinguished and crews ventilated the building and searched for smoldering hot spots. The home suffered damage to the laundry room along with heavy to light smoke damage to the rest of the home. Eight occupants will be displaced from the home until the smoke damage can be resolved. No injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported.

PROBABLE CAUSE: PROBABLE CAUSE: Captain Kevin Smathers of the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit investigated the cause of the fire and determined it started in the clothes dryer, due to malfunctioning temperature sensor.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Basement laundry room and contents along with smoke damage through out the home.
DOLLAR LOSS: 10,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 20
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/16/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1307 E. Walton Ave.
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99207

NARRATIVE: This morning, October 16th, at 8:01 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department was dispatched to a reported house fire at 1307 E. Walton Avenue in the city of Spokane. The first crew on scene reported a one and one-half story house with smoke and flames from the roof vents. The homeowner met the crew and reported all occupants had safely evacuated the house. As additional fire crews arrived, hose leads were stretched into the house and up to the attic. Concurrently, crews cut vent holes in the roof to relieve the heat and smoke, allowing the interior crews to quickly reach and extinguish the fire in the attic. Fire had also extended down through an interior wall containing plastic plumbing pipe, and was burning on the main floor as well as the basement. Using thermal imaging cameras, crews rapidly located and extinguished the fire hidden in the walls, stopping its spread. In all, 3 engines, 3 ladder trucks, 1 heavy rescue truck, and 2 command vehicles, with a total of 23 firefighters operated at this fire. Four adult occupants and several pets will be displaced from the house until extensive repairs can be completed. No injuries to firefighters or the occupants were reported.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Captain Kevin Smathers of the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit investigated the cause of the fire and determined it started as a result of an unintentionally overloaded electrical circuit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Fire damage to the house was confined to part of the roof, attic, and an interior wall. Water and overhaul damage also occurred in the process of locating and extinguishing the fire. Roof, structural, electrical and plumbing repairs will need to be made before the house can be reoccupied.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

Local 29 Nominations and Election.

At the October 12th union meeting, the following nominations were made:

VP- Waller
E-Board- Frater, Wood, Archibald, Skipworth
Grievance- Turpen, Walsh
Trustee- Mathews
Awards- Moore

Having no opposition and therefore by acclamation, Waller was elected as VP, Turpen and Walsh were elected to the Grievance Committee, Mathews was elected as Trustee and Moore was elected to the Awards Committee.

There will be an election for two E-Board positions. On the ballot will be:

Frater
Wood
Archibald
Skipworth

Members will be directed to pick two candidates. The top two vote receivers will be elected to the E-Board for a two-year term. The voting will take place on the Local 29 website's secure voting page. The online polls will open on November 24th and will close on December 13th. Members are encouraged to make sure that they are able to log onto their account ASAP. Once the polls open, they will be unable to register or change their information. If you need assistance, please email one of your E-Board members or info@local29.org. A contact link is provided on the website under "Contact us."

Thanks,

John Griffith
Elections Officer pro tem

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/11/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 4401 S. Regal
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99223

NARRATIVE: On Monday October 11th, 2010 at 8:14 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the Wendy's restaurant located at 4401 S. Regal. Engine 11 from their neighborhood fire station location of 32nd and Perry was the first to arrive and found a grease fire in the kitchen. They quickly entered the building while stretching a hose line and also carried a portable extinguisher. They were successful in knocking down the flames and containing the fire to the kitchen area without fire spreading further vertically into the attic space and roof area. As the fire extinguishment efforts were underway, Ladder 1 from their downtown location of Riverside and Browne accessed the roof to make sure the fire was in check and to provide any vertical ventilation if it was needed. Engine 9 from their neighborhood location of 18th and Bernard entered the structure and assisted the fire attack efforts by pulling ceiling to expose any areas where the fire may have extended. All of the restaurant employees that were inside the building managed to escape on their own. The fire was declared controlled and extinguished after approximately 15 minutes. One firefighter received minor smoke inhalation and was transported to Deaconess Hospital and was released later to duty after an evaluation. A total of 18 firefighters fought this blaze. The cause at this time appears to be a deep fat fryer that was in use by restaurant employees. The County Health Department arrived on scene to inspect the damage which consisted of fire damage to the fryer and smoke damage throughout the building.

PROBABLE CAUSE: A deep fat fryer in use by restaurant employees.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The fryer received significant damage from the fire. There was smoke damage throughout the restaurant.
DOLLAR LOSS: 6,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 18
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

No on I-1082

The Spokesman-Review just endorsed I-1082. This is the initiative that would have government L and I go private. In other words, the government could bail out insurance companies with our tax dollars on the back of the injured worker.

Look for Local 29 and WSCFF endorsements in the newsletter which will be out tomorrow.

From Beth Thew:

Please take a moment and read this editorial. We know this initiative was written by the insurance companies for the insurance companies. The article talks about rate hikes. It doesn’t mention that when times were good that L&I had a 6 month rate holiday, that’s not paying workers comp taxes for 6 months. I don’t know any insurance companies that do that for their subscribers. It doesn’t mention that businesses in Washington State pay some of the lowest rates in the nation or that injured workers have some of the best coverage.

Please take a moment and write a response to the Spokesman editorial. You can do it right on line.

Thanks

Beth Thew
Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
509-939-0688


Oct 10
Spokane Spokesman-Review
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/oct/10/editorial-i-1082-makes-long-overdue-industrial/

Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bill Donahoe/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/9/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2105 N. Hemlock
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Saturday, October 9th at 3:20 am, the Spokane Fire Department responded 3 Engines, 2 Senior Ladders, 1 Heavy Rescue and 2 Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 2105 N. Hemlock. Engine 3 arrived on scene and reported smoke coming from the eves of the 1 story home. After ensuring all the occupants were out of the structure, crews began searching for the fire with a thermal imaging camera. The fire was located in the wall between the home and attached garage. The wall was opened up and the fire was quickly extinguished. There was no extension of fire to the attic or other portions of the home. The electrical power to the residence was shut off as there was damage to the wiring in the wall. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters

PROBABLE CAUSE: The fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The wall between the home and the attached garage. Smoke damage throughout the home.
DOLLAR LOSS: 5,000.00
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

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Fire Press Release

ISSUING OFFICER: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/4/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 707 W. 5th on the 10th floor
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99204

NARRATIVE: On Monday night, October 4th at 8:31 P.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of smoke on the 10th floor of the Cooper George Retirement Community Apartments. Smoke was found on the 10th and 11th floors once fire crews were inside the building. A decision to hook hoses to the buildings standpipe and sprinkler systems was made as additional fire crews were sent to the upper levels to assist with evacuating the tenants and searching for the source of the smoke. A fire crew assigned to search and rescue occupants, found a large garbage can inside a utility room that was on fire. They quickly extinguished the fire with their pump can and began to ventilate the room by removing the smoke with power fans. A room by room search was conducted in order to confirm the status of each occupant that might remain inside their apartment units. Fortunately, no one was injured by the smoke that was present throughout the structure. A total of 30 firefighters responded to this fire with 5 engines, 2 ladders, a pumper ladder, a rescue unit and 2 battalion chiefs. The smoke condition throughout this large complex became the challenge, as it was increasing in volume after the initial arrival of the fire department. With a large occupant load, and the fire reported to be on a upper floor within this high rise building, the fire department had many challenges to face such as deploying personnel and equipment to those higher levels in a safe, efficient and rapid manner. Special High Rise hose was taken in as crews entered the building as was their Thermal Imaging Cameras that use infrared technology to detect hot spots and people that may remain trapped and unable to get out of the burning structure. The fire cause is undetermined at this time and remains under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigative Unit.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Undetermined at this time. The fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigative Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: 50 gallon plastic garbage can was totally destroyed. There was moderate smoke damage on the 4th through 13th floors.
DOLLAR LOSS: 1,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 30
MUTUAL AID: None Given

For more information on this release, please call (509)625-7002 and/or check out the SFD Blog at www.spokanefire.blogspot.com

END OF RELEASE

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