Monday, December 15, 2008

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

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 12/15/2008
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2503 W Queen
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Department dispatched fire fighting crews and their apparatus to 2503 W. Queen at 6:47 in the evening on Monday, December15th, for a reported basement fire. The first arriving fire officer reported heavy smoke issuing from the rear of a single story wood/frame dwelling, he reported that the family of four had safely exited the building and were outside, he further radioed to other arriving crews that he and his crew were going to attempt to enter the smoke filled building in an effort to locate the seat of the fire. Command of this fire was then transferred to the next arriving Fire Officer at the scene who made additional assignments to the other fire crews as they began arriving on scene. In a coordinated and systematic manner, the fire crews all went about completing their assigned tasks and as a result of their combined efforts the fire was located in the basement, it was confined, and then it was extinguished. The outside temperature created additional problems for the firefighters as they struggled in the single digit cold to fight this fire. Fortunately there were no reported injuries to any of the firefighters or to the family who was forced to leave their home. The family left the house with only the articles of clothing they happened to be wearing, however they were helped out by their neighbors who brought them warm clothing to ward off the bitter nighttime cold. The fire was contained to a bedroom in the basement which suffered very heavy fire damage, the rest of the basement sustained severe heat damage from the stubborn fire and the first floor of the house had considerable smoke damage throughout. The on-duty investigator from the Spokane City Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit was on the scene shortly after the fire was extinguished and his investigation concluded with the cause of the fire being attributed to the incomplete extinguishment of incense that had been burning in one of the basement bedrooms.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Incomplete extinguishment of burning incense in one of the basement bedrooms.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy fire damage to the room of origin, severe heat damage to the rest of the basement, and considerable smoke damage to the main floor of the residence.
DOLLAR LOSS: 40,000
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

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