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

Home Fire on E. Glass

Incident #:  2011037261
Date of Incident:  9/14/2011
Issuing Officer:  C Cornelius / Batt Chief

Narrative:
On Wednesday September 14, at 09:46 AM, the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 4 Engines, 1 Dedicated Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue and 2 Chief Officers to a reported house fire at 1009 E. Glass. (A neighbor had called 911 to report smoke coming from the home across the street.) L2 under the direction of Captain Ken Miller was the first apparatus on scene, arriving within 3 minutes of being dispatched. Captain Miller reported that he had smoke showing from the rear of the home and around the home's foundation. Neighbors informed him that two people in their seventies lived in the home and were unaccounted for. Captain Miller's priorities were to search the home for the occupants and locate the seat of the fire. When L2's crew made entry into the rear of the home they reported heavy smoke from ceiling to the floor, and stated that the fire appeared to be in the basement. As additional fire crews arrived they extended back up hose lines to protect searching crews while an attack was made on the fire in the basement. Medics and an Ambulance were placed on "stand by". Firefighters knocked the fire down within 10 minutes of arrival. The owner of the home arrived after the Fire Department and informed Fire Command that he was unsure where his wife was. Search crews found a family dog that had succumbed to smoke inhalation, but had not been able to locate the missing wife during their initial "primary search". Structural ventilation was performed, and a "secondary search" was completed on both floors. Search crews located another family pet, this time a cat. Family members informed Fire Command that they had located the missing wife, who had been out running errands and not home during the fire. The couple both in their 70s, were found safe and unhurt. Both however, are shaken do to the loss of their pets and damage to the home. The home's basement sustained the majority of the fire damage. However, the entire home was impacted by the heavy smoke. The cause of this fire is still under investigation. No fire injuries were reported.

Cause:
Under Investigation

Damage:
Basement: Fire and Smoke 1st floor: Smoke

# Firefighters Responding: 22

Dollar Loss: $30

End Of Release
For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002