North Battalion Apartment Fire
Incident #: 2011034008
Date of Incident: 8/24/2011
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer
Narrative:
On Wednesday August 24, 2011 12:07PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 5 Engines and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Brown and Fielder, responded to an Apartment Fire at 2807 East Boone Avenue. Spokane Firefighters arrived quickly to find smoke showing from a third floor unit of a three-story apartment building. The building contained 15 apartment units total, of which 13 were occupied. The first arriving Chief requested an upgrade to a working fire which added another senior Ladder, additional engine and staff from the Training Division. Later, an additional AMR ambulance and command staff were added to the incident to assist with planning and the on-site rehab of firefighters due to the extreme heat. Finding fire in one inhabited unit and the attic space, firefighters commenced swift salvage operations to protect personal property within the structure and made judicious use of firefighting hose streams. Both Senior Ladders immediately laddered the roof and ventilated above the apartment involved in fire. 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 from either residents or firefighters.
Cause:
The loss from the fire was limited to a total of two apartment units. American Red Cross is assisting the residents with interim placement assistance.
Damage:
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
# Firefighters Responding: 34
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
Family of 6 barely makes their way out of house fire
Incident #: 2011033945
Date of Incident: 8/24/2011
Issuing Officer: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief
Narrative:
On Wednesday August 24th, 2011 at 1:29 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department sent 4 engine companies, a ladder company, a rescue unit and 2 battalion chiefs to a report of a house on fire at 2430 E. Marshall. Engine 7 from their neighborhood station at 1st and Magnolia and Engine 8 from their neighborhood station at Mission and Rebecca arrived together on scene and found a single family dwelling that was filling with smoke rapidly towards the back of the house. They were quickly joined by Ladder 2, Engine 2, Engine 15 and Rescue 1 and discovered a fast spreading kitchen fire that had consumed most of the kitchen and was traveling towards the sleeping areas of the house. The 6 occupants safely made their exit from the home. All occupants had been sleeping at the time of the fire and the mother reportedly woke up in time to safely escort herself and 3 of her children out of the house. The father also woke up shortly after this and rapidly grabbed his 3 year old son from an adjoining room but soon found his exit through the main door was cut off due to the heat and rapidly building smoke. He instead opened a window on the west side of the house and climbed out the window with his son in his arms and made it out to safety. Despite the family's rapid exit through smoke and heat, there were no injuries. The fire was knocked down after approximately 10 minutes but the overhaul phase of the operation took 2 hours. A fire watch company stayed at the home until daylight watching for flare ups and hot spots. A total of 18 firefighters responded on this fire. The Fire Department would like to remind the public to maintain working smoke detectors inside your homes. There were two smoke detectors found inside this dwelling however, the batteries inside the detectors, were not plugged in all the way allowing the detectors to operate normally. Had these detectors operated like they should have, the family would have been alerted much earlier to the rapidly growing fire. The fire began as a result of cooking in a frying pan and then both the mother and father accidentally falling asleep while the stove was still on. This family is extremely fortunate to have survived such a rapidly spreading fire in the middle of the night while sleeping. Just a few moments longer, and the outcome of this fire could have been very different. Please check your smoke detectors, and keep them working to help save lives.
Cause:
While frying food in a frying pan, both adults fell asleep.
Damage:
Smoke damage throughout the dwelling. Heavy fire damage to the kitchen and adjoining living areas.
# Firefighters Responding: 18
Dollar Loss: $40,000
North Battalion Structure Fire
Incident #: 2011033883
Date of Incident: 8/23/2011
Issuing Officer: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
Narrative:
The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire apparatus and their crews to 518 E. LaCrosse at 16:45 hrs on Tuesday, August 23rd for a reported structure fire. As the crews were responding to the address they received additional information over their radios from Fire Dispatch indicating that a 4 year old girl was unaccounted for at the scene and that her parents feared she may still be inside the home. The first arriving fire apparatus on the scene reported a single story wood/frame dwelling with heavy black smoke showing from the roof and eaves of the building and that a detached garage behind the house was fully involved with fire. Initial assignments were made by that first-in company and shortly after their arrival word was passed via Fire Dept radio that the missing little girl had been located down the street at a neighbor's home; safe and sound. A complete search of the entire building was ordered, as per Fire Dept. policy, to ensure that there was no one inside while simultaneous fire attack and ventilation efforts were undertaken. Fortunately the search found no victims in the building and the very hot and well-advanced fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Fire damage to the structure was considerable and much of the interior of the building had to be opened by the fire fighters to ensure that no fire was concealed in the walls and ceilings. A large portion of the roof had to be opened to allow the hot, toxic gasses to ventilate into the atmosphere. The areas of the building not damaged by the fire itself were severely damaged by the heavy smoke conditions present. There were no reported injuries to any of the 26 fire fighters who responded to this afternoon blaze or to any of the tenants residing in the structure. Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary housing. Six engines, one ladder, one Heavy Rescue Truck, and three Command vehicles responded to this incident. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by members of the Spokane Fire Dept. Special Investigation Unit.
Cause:
Under Investigation
Damage:
Detached garage-total loss House-Severe fire damage, smoke damage throughout, major portion of the roof removed
# Firefighters Responding: 27
Dollar Loss: $50,000.00
End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
