Monday, December 22, 2008

SFD Media Release - For more information on this release please call (509)625-7002

ISSUING OFFICER: Mike Inman / Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/22/2008
INCIDENT TYPE: HazMat
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2904 N. Monroe
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: At 1:18 am on December 22, 2008 the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 3 Engines, 1 Pumper Ladder, 1 Ladder Truck, 1 Rescue unit and 2 Battalion Chiefs to 2904 N. Monroe on a report of a gas meter that had been hit by a private snow plow. There were no injuries and damage was confined to the gas meter. As a result of this AVISTA will be dedicating a crew later in the day to repair the damage and several fire crews were tied up for about an hour until the leak could be stopped and the business checked for gas. This type of emergency might be avoided if people, (at the request of AVISTA already) dig out their gas meters. Plows, snow blowers, and shovels can very easily damage this device that then expels natural gas, requires repair and disrupts the gas service to the structure. Please dig out your meters and mark them so they can be seen while clearing snow. Also if there is a fire emergency in your structure the Fire Department may need to shut off a gas meter in order to minimize the potential for a natural gas fed fire. Lastly, with the snow berms building up your local fire hydrant may be buried. Dig it out so the Fire Department can concentrate on laying hoses if necessary and not doing the digging which could lengthen the time it takes us to attack a fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Private snow plow plowing a parking area behind a commercial building.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Only the natural gas meter.
DOLLAR LOSS:
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

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