DATE OF INCIDENT: 8/9/2010
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 2114 E. Hartson
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99202
NARRATIVE: On Monday August 9th, 2010 at 1:04 P.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded 4 engines, a ladder, a pumper ladder, a rescue unit and 2 battalion chiefs to a structure fire in a dwelling at 2114 E. Hartson. Engine 7 from their neighborhood fire station at 1st and Magnolia was first to arrive a found a home with smoke coming from the front door and window on one side. After donning their protective self contained breathing apparatus and advancing a hose line, they made their entry into the burning structure. The fire proved hard to locate due to the heavy smoke conditions on the inside. While this was developing, a search team made up from two companies began their task of searching all interior areas of the dwelling for people still trapped and unable to escape. Additional resources were assigned to include a backup crew on an additional hose line and a ventilation team on the roof to assist with confining the fire. Because of the difficult smoke conditions inside, an additional engine crew was requested. A primary and secondary search of the dwelling was completed and the two adults that lived there were both found to be safely outside. The source of the fire was then found to be in a bedroom and was soon extinguished. Fire crews then began to check for any extending fire in walls and ceilings and found the attic to be clear as well as the basement below. The fire was knocked down after 15 minutes and soon after this, the long arduous task of overhaul began. The Spokane Fire Department Special Investigative Unit responded and found the fire to be caused by candles that were left burning in a bedroom. The structure sustained heavy fire and smoke damage to two bedrooms and a living room. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. Burning candles are one of our most common causes of dwelling fires in the city of Spokane. Of all candle fires in homes, more than a third of them occur in bedrooms. The Spokane Fire Department would like to offer the following reminders if you must use candles. Burn candles in the center of a one foot "Circle of Safety" free of anything that can burn. Stay in the same room with burning candles, never leave them unattended. Burn candles on a non-combustible surface such as a ceramic saucer or plate. Be sure to snuff out candles before falling asleep, going out, or leaving the room. Teach everyone in the family the rules of safe candle use. Keep candles out of reach of small children and pets. In this fire, the two adults had just left the home not realizing the candles were still burning. One burning candle eventually burnt down enough until it caught some nearby bedding on fire. The fire then spread rapidly to the entire bedroom and extended into the adjacent bedroom and living area. A total of 24 firefighters responded on this blaze and remained at the scene for 2 hours completing their work which consisted of searching for embers that remained in void areas and final extinguishment.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Candles that were left burning and unattended in the bedroom.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy fire and smoke damage to two bedrooms and the living room. The contents of the bedroom were destroyed.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 24
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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