Winter weather brings increased risk for CO poisoning

With this winter storm and the threat of power outages, Spokane Fire Department reminds the community to take precautions that can prevent exposure to carbon monoxide and reduce the potential for home fires: . Keep flashlights on hand for emergency use. They are much safer than depending on candles for light and the wind-up versions do not require extra batteries. . Do not warm up your car in a garage attached to the home because the carbon monoxide fumes can quickly become deadly. (Eight persons in Edmonton required treatment in hyperbaric chambers last week after a condominium resident left a car running in their common garage.) . Do not use your oven to temporarily heat the home. . Never bring generators or barbeque grills inside the home for heating or cooking purposes. During a winter storm in Western WA last year, 17 persons died from carbon monoxide poisoning and nearly 100 were treated in area hospitals because they did not realize how dangerous it is to use a grill or generator inside a building. . Never use extension cords with portable space heaters. Always plug the appliance directly into the wall and make sure there is at least a 3 foot clearance between the heater and any item that can burn. . Make sure that every smoke detector in your home has a good battery. Hardwired detectors should have back-up batteries. Detectors should not be more than 10 years old. Homes should have at least one photoelectric detector on each level to better protect from slow, smoldering fires. . If you use your fireplace, take extra care to safely dispose of the ashes in a metal container located a safe distance from the house structure. . Clear the snow from your neighborhood fire hydrant so that emergency crews do not have to waste time locating the water supply.

Help the SFD, Shovel A Fire Hydrant

The Spokane Fire Department would like to remind Spokane residents to check the fire hydrant near their home or business. The record snowfall this weekend, along with the associated plowing, can lead to fire hydrants becoming obstructed and covered from view.

At a fire, the Fire Department must quickly locate and access a water supply source from the closest fire hydrant. If a fire hydrant is buried by snow, it is difficult to locate, and valuable time must be spent digging it out. The time spent accessing a water supply may delay the fire attack and allow a fire to grow and prevent potential rescue.

Keep the snow clear around the fire hydrant and shovel a path from the street or roadway up to the fire hydrant. These actions will allow fire personnel to quickly locate a fire hydrant and obtain a water supply for firefighting activities.

Major Snowstorm Hits Spokane, EOC Activated

Spokane County opened an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) today at 2 p.m. to handle the snow emergency. More than a foot of new snow has fallen in some areas of Spokane County, and more is expected during the next 72 hours.

Emergency personnel have been very busy with calls over the weekend. City and County street crews have been working around the clock plowing snow emergency routes, arterials, and residential hills. Residential streets are increasingly snowbound. City and County crews have 115 pieces of equipment out on the road.

City and County officials currently are prioritizing arterials and secondary arterials that haven’t been plowed yet.

About 4,000 residences were without power throughout the region at 6 p.m. Sunday. Avista Corp. and Inland Power & Light crews are working to restore power. Citizens are asked to report downed power lines and outages by calling their power company. Avista’s number is 1-800-227-9187, and Inland Power’s number is 1-877-6-OUTAGE.

Emergency personnel are asking citizens to do the following:

• Stay at home, if at all possible.
  
• Do not approach downed power lines, and don’t knock snow off of the lines.
  
• Clear snow away from fire hydrants.
  
• Check on your neighbors who may need help.
  
• The City of Spokane and Spokane County will be operating essential services only on Monday, Jan. 28. All non-essential employees at the City and County should stay home.
  
  
• The Spokane County Courthouse will be open, but Spokane City Hall will be closed. The City Council will not meet on Monday. Garbage pickup is expected to proceed as normal in the City. County residents should call their local garbage provider for service information.
  
  
• Some school districts have announced closures for tomorrow, and the rest of the schools continue to evaluate the weather and will make their own determination.
  
  
• Spokane Transit Authority (STA) is running buses on their normal routes and schedules.
  
  
• If citizens have an emergency, they should call 9-1-1. If they have a non-emergency, but still urgent, need or question, they may call the Spokane County phone bank at (509) 477-2304.

SFD Media Release - Blog!

Issuing Officer: Brian Schaeffer
Date of Incident: 1/25/2008
Incident Address: 44 West Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201

The Spokane Fire Department is expanding our online presence. In addition to a recently redesigned website, the department has a new “News and Public Information Blog.” The Blog’s (short for “Web Log”) objectives are to promote fire safety, provide timely information to the citizens of Spokane and open lines of communication with the citizens. The Blog, which can be found at spokanefire.blogspot.com or linked through www.spokanefire.org, will allow the department to pass on immediate and timely information to the media and public. Chief Officers will be able to communicate directly with the citizens through this medium which is only used by a handful of Fire Departments in the United States. The blog encourages open communications with government officials and allows a flexible medium which can be accessed anywhere in the world.
In addition to the latest press release about incidents, users will also be able to find photos and video clips of recent incidents, latest consumer product safety recalls, fire safety videos and online photo gallery. The site also makes use of ‘RSS’ technology so users can receive timely emergency information. The Blog’s was created by SFD’s very own Dean Pearcy in Media Services and utilized an off-the-shelf web technology which had no direct cost to the City.

Structure Fire

On January 20th, 2008 at 12:16 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded 3 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 1 pumper ladder company, 1 rescue company and 2 battalion chiefs to a house fire located at 3110 N. Alberta. As crews were enroute to this incident, it was reported that there may have been an explosion and that a child may still be inside the home. When firefighters arrived, the entire back half of the house and an attached storage shed were fully engulfed in flames. A search and rescue team was set up and coordinated with a fire attack team as well as rooftop ventilation and it was soon confirmed that all occupants were safe and accounted for on the outside of the home. The fire was successfully knocked down and contained within 30 minutes and through firefighting efforts, crews were able to prevent the fire from consuming the front half of the home. As soon as the fire was contained, the long and arduous task of overhaul began and continued until 4:00 A.M. This involved pulling ceilings and removing burned items including structural members of the home. All of the occupants will be staying with friends and the Red Cross was notified for any other assistance that they may need. A total of 24 firefighters responded and fought this blaze. The cause is currently under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit and has been undetermined at this time. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians on this incident.

Probable Cause:
Undetermined. Under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department.

Damage Extent:
Heavy fire Damage to the exterior and upper level of the home including the roof. Smoke damage throughout the home.

Firefighter Response: 24

Dollar Loss: $90,000

Mutual Aid: None Given

Crews battle fire at storage facility

Issuing Officer:
Battalion Chief Dan Brown
Date of Incident:
1/17/2008
Incident Address:
322 EAST Foothill Dr

Spokane, WA 99207
Structure Fire
On January 17th 2008 Thursday at 11:07 a fire was reported in a storage unit at Self Storage 322 East Foothills Dr. Upon leaving the Station Ladder Company 2 reported a large column of smoke showing from a storage complex. Arriving on scene L2 reported several units were fully involved in flame. Large diameter hose lines were advanced to attack the fire. The storage units were metal clad construction which made it very difficult to gain entry and attack the fire. All the metal doors faces had to be cut by saws in order to release smoke and heat so firefighters could advance leads into the units, also door locks were cut. The roof was trenched about 150 feet from the first storage unit on fire; this was done to prevent the spread of fire into other units. Five units and contents were heavily damaged by fire and smoke. In all eighteen units suffered smoke and heat damage. It took about forty minutes to knock the main body of fire down. Overhaul and final extinguishment took an additional four hours. There were no injuries to report. Twenty three firefighters and three command personnel responded to this incident The Fire Department Community Assistance Response team (CARES) responded to this incident to render any help that may be needed for the tenants of the storage units. The cause of this fire is under investigation.
Probable Cause:
Under investigation
Damage Extent:
5 storage units and contents heavy damage. 13 other storage units suffered heat and smoke damage.
Firefighter Response: 23
Dollar Loss: $130,000,00
Mutual Aid: None Given

Smoke Detector Alerts Family to Fire

At 11:44 pm January 16, 2007 the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 3 Engines, 1 Ladder Truck, 1 Pumper Ladder, a Rescue Truck and 2 Battalion Chiefs to a reported house fire at 7007 N. Tucannon in Northwest Spokane. Upon arrival of the first Engine Company they reported a split level style house fully involved. Fire and smoke were coming out windows on the street side of the house. A 4th Engine Company and an investigator were dispatched for a total of 25 Firefighters. An aggressive frontal attack through the front door coordinated with ventilation of the house resulted in a fast knock down of the fire. A search of the house indicated that everyone had gotten out. At home at the time of the fire were an adult female and 3 school age children. The family was alerted to the fire by working smoke detectors in the house and there were no injuries to the occupants. There were no injuries of Firefighters as well. Firefighting efforts were made a little more difficult due to the cold temperatures in the low 20's F. and significant ice build up on the streets in the area. Crews will be on scene the rest of the night to assist with the investigation of the fire as the cause has not been determined at this time. Damage was extensive to one bedroom and a hallway with heat and smoke damage throughout the rest of the house. The lives of 4 people could very well have been saved due to the smoke alarm activation that notified the family of the fire. Again the Fire Department cannot overstate the importance of working smoke detectors in the home, they do save lives.

Probable Cause:

Under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department

Damage Extent:

Significant damage to 1 bedroom and part of a hallway with head and smoke damage throughout the 4 level house

Firefighter Response: 25

Dollar Loss: $

Mutual Aid: None Given

House fire in North Spokane

On 1/15/08 at 10:12 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded 4 engine companies, 1 pumper ladder company, 1 ladder company, a rescue unit and 2 battalion chiefs to a report of a fire in a house located at 5727 N. Calispel. Upon arrival, fire crews found a well involved home with fire coming from the windows. A rapid entry was made by forcing doors and crews began to search the structure for victims while at the same time extinguishing the fire. Fortunately, no one was at home at the time of the fire. However, one deceased cat was found inside. Spokanimal was summoned to the scene to assist with the cat. It took firefighters 15 minutes to extinguish the fire but they remained on scene for a number of hours to make sure all of the fire was completely out. Upon close examination, it was revealed that a portion of one of the exterior walls had been forced out. The special investigative unit of the Spokane Fire Department arrived and began their investigative work. It was found that the fire was caused by combustibles placed too close to a gas fired water heater. These combustibles soon ignited and then the flames burned through the regulator next to the water tank which allowed a larger amount of gas to escape and ignite. When the gas ignited it created an explosion which pushed out the exterior wall to the home. Two firefighters received minor injuries during the blaze. One received a foot injury and the other received a leg injury. Firefighters completed final extinguishment and then began the long process of debris removal. Crews were present at the home until the late afternoon. The Spokane Fire Department "Cares" unit was brought to the scene to assist the family with making arrangements for shelter, clothing and food. The American Red Cross was also notified. A total of 22 firefighters responded to this fire along with 2 battalion chiefs. The Spokane Fire Department would like to remind the public that a 3 foot clearance or more needs to be kept around and from any hot water heater or electrical panel. Water tanks like these are typically located in basements or areas where storage items accumulate and sometimes these combustibles end up within the 3 foot radius of the tank. Make sure and keep your electrical panel doors shut as well. The family will be staying with friends while their home is repaired and restored.

Probable Cause:
Combustibles placed too close to a gas fired water heater.

Damage Extent:
Major fire and smoke damage throughout the structure.

Firefighter Response: 22

Dollar Loss: $200,000

Mutual Aid: None Given

Smoking and Home Fires

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If you smoke or live with someone who smokes, learn the facts. A lit cigarette left alone in a room, or accidentally dropped onto a chair or bed, or hot cigarette ashes or matches tossed away before they are completely out - all can cause a large fire in seconds.

Putting out a cigarette the right way only takes seconds, too. It is up to you to make sure your cigarette is put out, all the way, every time.

One-in-four people killed in home fires is not the smoker whose cigarette caused the fire.

More than one third were children of the smokers.

Twenty-five percent were neighbors or friends of the smokers.

Take a moment to learn about Smoking & Home Fire action steps. Click on the links below to learn how you can protect your home from smoking-related fires.

For more information, visit http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smoking/

Fire Damages South Hill Home

On the morning of January 4, 2008 the City of Spokane's fire department responded 7 fire apparatus and 2 command personnel to a reported fire located at 713 East 9th Avenue. Neighbors reported fire showing on the entire backside of the home.Within 5 minutes of receiving the call, Engine 7 arrived on the scene under the command of Lt. Kelly Smith. Lt Smith reported that the home's occupant was safely out, and then, along with her crew advanced a hose line into the burning home to extinguish the fire. (During this initial attack fire was burning in the basement, first floor and attic areas.) Additional hose lines were used to extinguish fire in these areas. The main body of fire was extinguished inside 10 minutes.There were no injuries to the homeowner or his dog. The home owner was alerted to the fast spreading fire by the home's smoke detector. The home sustained heavy fire damage to the backside, basement and attic areas, but many of the interior furnishings were salvaged by the firefighters.

PROBABLE CAUSE: This fire appears to have been caused by an electrical heating appliance that was located in a "Chicken Coop". This coop was adjacent to the backside of the home. The fire spread from this location into the home. (None of the chickens were injured.)

EXTENT: Extensive structual damage to siding and attic areas.

DOLLAR LOSS: 50,000

FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 27MUTUAL AID: None Given