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

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 6/15/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1708 W Mission
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. Dispatch Center received a 9-1-1 telephone call from a concerned passer-by at approximately 12:20 in the early morning on Monday, June 15th, 2009. The caller reported that a building located at the corner of Mission and Ash was on fire. Immediately a full fire response was sent out, fortunately one of the Stations dispatched is located just a couple of blocks north of that intersection and they arrived on scene within minutes and reported that the building was involved by fire and that the fire was growing in intensity and beginning to gain entry into the building. That initial fire crew rapidly set about attacking the fast spreading fire and was able to get it knocked down very quickly. They forced entry into the locked building at the front door and extinguished the fire that had penetrated to the inside of the structure. As other fire crews began arriving on scene they were directed to begin laddering and ventilating the building, still other crews began the labor intensive process of pulling ceilings and opening walls to get into the concealed spaces where fire tends to hide. The actual address of the burned structure is 1708 W. Mission. An investigator from the Spokane City Fire Special Investigation Unit was requested to respond to the incident since the circumstances surrounding this fire appeared to be suspicious; his work on this case is on-going at this time.. There were no reports of injury to any of the firefighters at the scene. The damage to the building was confined to the area around the front door, including the large soffit area above the front door which is a conduit to the attic spaces. Fire damage was also present in the foyer area just inside the building. Smoke damage occurred throughout the interior of the structure.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Currently under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Dept.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Front door area ouside of the building including the large overhanging soffit that conceals the attic space, interior damage to the entry area inside the front door, and smoke damage throughout the building.
DOLLAR LOSS: 10,000
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