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

1113 W. York

Incident #:  2012021672
Date of Incident:  5/26/2012
Issuing Officer:  Joel Fielder/Battalion Chief

Narrative:
Yesterday, May 26th, 2012, the Spokane Fire Department responded at approximately 6:30 PM to 1113 West York on a reported structure fire. The first crew on scene was Engine 3 from the local neighborhood fire station at Indiana and Ash. The Lieutenant reported a basement fire in a 1-story, wood framed residence. An aggressive interior attack by the first arriving crews confined the fire to the basement while additional fire crews completed search and rescue, ventilation and salvage and overhaul. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes and there were no reported injuries to the occupants or firefighters. Six fire companies with 18 firefighters responded to this fire and were on scene for approximately 1.5 hours.

Cause:
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit.

Damage:
Fire damage was confined to the basement with smoke damage through out the rest of the structure.

# Firefighters Responding: 20

Dollar Loss: $10000

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

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

Conclusion of EMS Week

Incident #: 
Date of Incident:  5/25/2012
Issuing Officer:  AC Schaeffer
Narrative:
Many are surprised to learn the Spokane Fire Department has been providing EMS first response for several decades. The SFD has remained the proud provider of first response Paramedic-level Emergency Medical Services (EMS) across what is now over a 70 square mile jurisdiction and home to over 210,000 residents. Tomorrow is the last day of National Emergency Medical Services Week and was not only an opportunity to affirm our long-standing commitment to EMS, but more importantly to applaud the less visible members of a national EMS system that seek to assure the comfort, recovery and survival of all who turn to them when afflicted with sudden illness or injury. This week, we proudly recognized the around-the-clock devotion of our Fire Department Dispatchers, SFD and AMR EMT's, SFD and AMR Paramedics, nurses, physicians, hospital technicians, INHS Paramedic School Faculty and our awesome support staff who work alongside us in the noble pursuit of providing quality pre-hospital emergency medicine. It is our hope that you will join us this week in reaching out to the providers of EMS in your community, not only to say thank you, but to allow them an ability to better understand your needs and concerns related to emergency health care.

            

     

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

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

South Battalion Garage Fire

Incident #:  2012020857
Date of Incident:  5/21/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Mike Thompson

Narrative:
On Monday, 05/21/2012, at 03:45 AM The Spokane Fire Department responded 1 Ladder truck, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, and 2 Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 2302 E Mission ave. Spokane Engine 2 from the Logan Neighborhood arrived within 3 minutes of the call to find a 2 car wood constructed garage with smoke and fire issuing from the front of the structure. Engine 2, after ensuring there was no one in the garage, advanced a hose off their apparatus and began to attack the fire. As additional companies arrived they began coordinated efforts to forcibly open all the doors, keep the fire from spreading, and removal of the smoke. The fire was quickly brought under control and was totally extinguished within 1 hour. There were no injuries to civilians or fire fighters.

Cause:
The cause is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department SIU.

Damage:
Damage was extensive to the structure as well as a boat and other contents.

# Firefighters Responding: 20

Dollar Loss: $40,000.

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

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

Vacant structure sustains heavy fire damage.

Incident #:  2012020707
Date of Incident:  5/20/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Steve Sabo

Narrative:
At 3:40 AM, Sunday morning, May 20th, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 2623 E. Sprague Ave. The first engine company on-scene reported a one-story brick and wood frame house with heavy smoke and flames on the exterior west side and extending into the attic. The incident was upgraded to a working fire, which added a second aerial ladder to the five engines, one ladder truck, one heavy rescue, and two chief officers already enroute or on-scene. Crews quickly forced entry into the structure and advanced multiple hose lines through the smoky conditions to locate and extinguish the rapidly advancing fire. In addition to fire attack and roof ventilation, crews performed a search of the building for any victims. The house, which had multiple additions, was determined to be vacant, and no victims were found. There were no injuries to firefighters at this fire. The Spokane Police Department closed Sprague Avenue and provided traffic control during the 5-hour duration of this incident.

Cause:
Investigators with the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit completed their on-scene fire cause investigation and preliminarily determined the area of origin to be on the exterior. At this time the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Electricity and gas had been disconnected to the vacant structure.

Damage:
Damage was confined to heavy fire damage to the exterior siding and to the roof. There was also smoke, water and overhaul damage to the interior walls and ceilings.

# Firefighters Responding: 30

Dollar Loss: $40,000

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

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

Astor Terrace Apartments

Incident #:  2012019605
Date of Incident:  5/13/2012
Issuing Officer:  Joel Fielder/Battalion Chief

Narrative:
Today, May 13, 2012, the Spokane Fire Department responded at approximately 3:16 PM to 406 East Montgomery on a reported structure fire. The first crew to arrive on scene, Engine 2 from the local neighborhood fire station, reported smoke showing from the roof of a 2-story- wood framed apartment building with a fire reported in a 2nd floor apartment. Engine 2 along with assistance from several neighborhood civilians, used ground ladders to rescue 2 trapped occupants from a window on the second floor. Firefighters from Engine 2 with the assistance from additional firefighters from Engine 3 then made entry into the structure and aggressively attacked the fire located in an apartment on the south east corner of the 2nd floor. Additional fire crews completed search and rescue, evacuation, ventilation and salvage and overhaul. The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes and there were no reported injuries to the occupants or firefighters. Nine fire companies with 31 firefighters responded to this fire and were on scene for approximately 3 hours.

Cause:
The cause of the fire is under investigation by Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit.

Damage:
Fire and smoke damage was confined to the 2nd floor apartment.

# Firefighters Responding: 34

Dollar Loss: $20000

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

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

Wellesley Gas Leak

Incident #:  2012019471
Date of Incident:  5/12/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Jones

Narrative:
May 12, 2012 at 3:03 PM, 6 companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Hazardous Material Apparatus and 1 Ladder under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Green and Jones responded to a reported natural gas leak at 3008 E Wellesley Avenue. The first arriving company from the neighborhood fire station arrived within 3 minutes and reported a 1-inch gas line that had suffered a rupture due to hand excavation work. As additional companies arrived on-scene they rapidly deployed a hand line to provide protection to the workers in case of an explosion. Other companies were assigned to check the homes in the area for natural gas all foot traffic in the area was eliminate and a hot zone was established. Spokane Police were on scene for traffic control. The leak was mitigated within 30 minutes by SFD and Vista crews. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.

Cause:
Excavation work over gas line

Damage:
Gas Line

# Firefighters Responding: 22

Dollar Loss: $2000

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

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

Vehicle Extrication in the Indian Trail Area

 

     

Incident #:  2012018643
Date of Incident:  5/7/2012
Issuing Officer:  AC Schaeffer
Narrative:
A three vehicle collision involving an STA bus brought morning traffic to a standstill in the southbound lanes of Indian Trail Road as SFD companies treated three patients, one of them with serious injuries. Engines 16 and 17 and the North Battalion Chief were all returning from a cardiac arrest incident in a nearby neighborhood just as the collision occurred; so their response time was only seconds after the call was dispatched. Due to an occupant being trapped from the collision, the incident was upgraded to an extrication response which added two additional Ladders and Heavy Rescue to safely manage the scene. Two of the injured were readily removed by firefighters from a mangled sedan, though one remained trapped, requiring rescuers to skillfully disentangle them from the wreckage with prying tools. All of the occupants on the STA bus were interviewed, however were not injured. The serious and moderately injured, described as two adolescents and one adult male, were transported with Fire Department Paramedics to area hospitals. The incident remains under investigation by Spokane Police Department.
Cause:
N/A
Damage:
Both vehicles appeared to be damaged beyond repair.
# Firefighters Responding: 14

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

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

North Battalion Structure Fire

Incident #:  2012017964#
Date of Incident:  5/3/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe

Narrative:
On Thursday May 3rd 2012 at 12:47 am, The Spokane Fire Dept responded one ladder, four engines, one heavy rescue and two Battalion Chiefs to a reported fire in a single family dwelling located at 1907 E. North Foothills Drive. The first arriving ladder officer reported smoke and intense heat on the second floor of the single family dwelling. Crews were assigned to attack the fire, search for occupants, and to ventilate the roof of the home. The quick actions of the crews resulted in the fire being confined to the bedroom of the second floor. The four occupants are being housed by the Red Cross until the home can be repaired. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.

Cause:
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit but appears to have started in the second floor bedroom.

Damage:
Direct fire damage was confined to the second floor bedroom with smoke damage to the entire second floor. The roof also sustained damage from the ladder crew performing the required vertical ventilation.

# Firefighters Responding: 22

Dollar Loss: $15,000.00

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

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

Correct action taken prevents North Side Kitchen Fire.

Incident #:  --------------------------------
Date of Incident:  5/2/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe

Narrative:
On Wednesday March 2nd 2012 the Spokane Fire Dept responded to a reported kitchen fire in a multi-family dwelling in Spokane. The potentially dangerous and expensive fire was prevented by an alert employee. The employee recognized the seriousness of the rapidly developing stovetop fire, called 9-1-1, then grabbed a kitchen fire (K-Class) extinguisher and quickly put out the flames. While the building was equipped with automatic fire sprinkler and alarm systems, the quick and correct response prevented this fire from growing to the point where the sprinklers were needed. Cooking fires are the #1 cause of residential fires in the U.S. Whenever someone is cooking, they need to remain at the stove. Never throw water on a grease fire or attempt to carry the burning pot or pan outside. The fire can quickly spread to clothing and hair, causing painful burns that can be life threatening. Be prepared to quickly extinguish a small fire by putting a lid on the pan to remove oxygen from the fire. It is important to also have an ABC fire extinguisher within easy reach of the stove.

Cause:
Cooking

Damage:
There was no structural damage to the kitchen of the multifamily dwelling.

# Firefighters Responding: 20

Dollar Loss: $0

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