Sunday, March 31, 2013

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

Media Release

North Side Apartment Fire

Incident #: 2013013547
Date of Incident: 03/31/2013
Issuing Officer: C Cornelius/ Battalion Chief

Narrative:
 This Easter morning at 07:05 hours, the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 6 fire  companies to a reported fire in a 3 story apartment building located at 727 W. Glass. Tenants reported to Dispatch that smoke was coming from around the door of one of the upstairs apartment units.  Fire Dispatch advised callers to start evacuating the building.
Pumper Ladder 13 arrived on the scene within 4 minutes and positioned their apparatus to ladder the building.  Engine 3 arrived simultaneously and advanced a hose line to the apartment on the top floor.  Command was established and incoming fire crews were tasked with searching adjacent units on the top floor, ventilating the attic and securing a water supply for the hose lines being used.  Quick decisive actions taken by the first officers on the scene helped bring this fire under control within 15 minutes.
The apartment unit where the fire started sustained substantial damage from both fire and smoke, but the damage was confined to this unit only.  The occupants of this unit were not home when the fire department arrived and are currently being assisted by the local Red Cross.  There were no injuries reported at this incident, however, the family lost a pet in the fire.  Other residents have been allowed back into their apartments.
The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental in nature. 

Cause:
Accidental

Damage:
One apartment unit, ceiling and roof.

# Firefighters Responding: 22

Dollar Loss: $ 20,000

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

Friday, March 29, 2013

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

Media Release

1023 N. Monroe structure fire

Incident #: 2013013309
Date of Incident: 03/29/2013
Issuing Officer: BC Jones

Narrative:
 Friday, March 29, at 4:27 PM, the Spokane Fire Department dispatched crews to a reported fire in a structure located at 1023 N Monroe.  The first crew on-scene reported nothing showing from out-side the structure, follow up report was light smoke inside the building.  Fire crews quickly located the fire and extinguished it, this fire was found smoldering in the floor joists between the first floor and loft.  Eight fire companies with 22 firefighters responded to this fire.  The fire was brought under control and extinguished within 30 minutes.

Cause:
The cause is under investigation by the SVU

Damage:
Light damage to the structure,

# Firefighters Responding: 22

Dollar Loss: $ 5,000

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

Monday, March 25, 2013

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

Media Release

SIU Update on 2914 E 17th

Incident #: 2013012361
Date of Incident: 03/23/2013
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
The structure fire at 2914 East 17th Avenue has been determined to be caused by a four year old male playing with a lighter.  No charges will be filed, however the child was enrolled in the Fire Department’s Juvenile Firesetter Program.

Cause:
N/A

Damage:
N/A

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

Saturday, March 23, 2013

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

Media Release

South Hill Residence Fire

Incident #: 2013012361
Date of Incident: 03/23/2013
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Saturday March 23, 2013 at 11:39 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue and 1 Senior Ladder under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Cornelius and Donahoe responded to a reported residential fire a 2914 East 17th Avenue on Spokane’s South Hill.
                            
The first company (Engine 7) arrived within four minutes and reported a two story residence with heavy smoke showing from the eaves of the home.  While completing a walk-around of the building, Engine 7’s officer immediately identified a patient that was suffering from smoke inhalation.  The patient was moved to a safe location to awaiting SFD Paramedics and treated for serious injuries.  As Engine 7 prepared for an offensive attack with their three personnel, additional companies secured a water supply from a nearby hydrant and backed up the interior companies on the offensive attack.  Due to the rapid progression of the fire, the incident was upgraded to a working fire and added an additional Senior Ladder, AMR Ambulance and AMR Supervisor.  The first arriving Ladder Company used ground ladders to access the roof and cut ventilation holes directly above the fire on the second floor.  Later arriving companies successfully searched the entire structure for victims as well as establishing a rapid intervention team for the safety of the firefighters assigned to the incident. 
 
It took 24 Firefighters just 25 minutes to locate and knock down the fire and control the incident.  There was one civilian injury (adult male) which was transported to Sacred Heart. 

Cause:
The cause is under investigation by the SFD SIU and Spokane Police Department.

Damage:
Firefighters were able to contain the damage to the second floor and prevent the fire from spreading.  The Red Cross is assisting the occupants (renters) and the home will not be immediately tenable.

# Firefighters Responding: 24

Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department,

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

Media Release

Hillyard Neighborhood Fire

Incident #: 2013012287
Date of Incident: 03/22/2013
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Friday March 22, 2013 at 7:16 PM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Moline, responded to a structure fire at 5001 North Regal in Northeast Spokane.  While companies were responding, 911 callers indicated that heavy smoke and fire could be seen from the second floor of the home and that all occupants had exited. 

Firefighters from Station 15 arrived within 4-minutes to find heavy smoke showing from the second floor of the two story single family home. The incident was immediately upgraded to a working fire 'working fire' adding an additional Ladder Company, AMR Ambulance and an AMR Supervisor to the scene. The first arriving ladder company immediately laddered the roof from several sides and manually cut ventilation holes above the heaviest area of fire-involvement to allow engine companies to attack the fire from the rear of the house.  Early in the incident, all firefighters had to withdraw due to untenable fire conditions on the second floor. The fire was attacked from the exterior for nearly an hour until enough progress was made to resume an aggressive attack. The well coordinated effort of firefighters confined flames to the home’s second floor and remained on scene throughout the night and morning taking protective measures for the occupant’s property. There were no civilian injuries reported, however two cats are assumed dead from the smoke and extreme heat.  Additionally, one firefighter was transported to a local hospital for a musculoskeletal injury and was released last night.
   

Cause:
The cause is under investigation and displaced families are receiving assistance from the Inland NW Chapter of the American Red Cross. 

Damage:
The second floor and roof is completely destroyed. Fire companies spent the majority of the day today assisting the occupants in retrieving their personal effects.


# Firefighters Responding: 30

Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department,

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

Monday, March 18, 2013

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

Media Release

South Hill High Rise Explosion

Incident #: 2013011610
Date of Incident: 03/18/2013
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Monday, March 18, 2013 at 07:56 AM, 9 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 5 Engines, 2 Senior Ladders and a Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Moline and Donahoe, responded to an Explosion at 508 West 6thAvenue (Sixth Avenue Medical Building).The building is high rise structure on Spokane’s South Hill with primarily office and medical clinic style occupancies.
 
Rescue 9 was first to arrive and reported nothing showing from the building’s exterior and established command. As additional companies arrived simultaneously, firefighters were made aware of severe blast damage within the building’s basement near the boiler room. Rescue 9 and first arriving firefighters subsequently coordinated the rapid evacuation for over 50 occupants who had fled when the building’s alarm was sounded.  As a result of the explosion and a need to secure utilities, the entire building was temporarily deemed untenable. Assisting the occupants, staff and patients in their need for temporary relocation were busses from STA and nearby businesses. 
 
An adult male was identified to firefighters early in the incident as a heating/ventilation worker during the initial assessment of the blast area.He received minor flash burns from the explosion and told firefighters that he was working on the natural gas boiler when the explosion occurred. Fire Department Paramedics treated the victim and AMR consequently transported him to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition this morning. There were no additional injuries as a result of this incident and the Fire Department, along with Avista has allowed occupants to return to the building.

Cause:
The cause of the explosion is under investigation by WA State Labor and Industries and SFD Investigators.

Damage:
Although the explosion did cause damage in the boiler room, there was no sustainment of fire.  Firefighters methodically examined entire complex for structural and infrastructure damage, however the building was determined to be safe.

# Firefighters Responding: 31

Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department, Avista, Labor and Industries

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

Thursday, March 7, 2013

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

Media Release

Time and Smoke Detectors

Incident #: 
Date of Incident: 03/07/2013
Issuing Officer: Jan Doherty/Public Education Officer

Narrative:
 CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS AND CHECK YOUR DETECTORS!
 
When you move your clocks ahead one hour to begin Daylight Savings Time this Sunday, March 10, please remember to also check on the condition of your smoke detectors.  Two out of three home fire deaths happen in households without working smoke detectors.  
 
This weekend, please:
 

  • Replace alkaline 9-volt batteries on your smoke detectors.  Keep a supply of batteries on hand in case your detector ever begins to “chirp” in the middle of the night.
  • Alkaline 9-volt batteries should last 1 year. Lithium 9-volt batteries can last up to 10 years.  If your detector begins chirping and it has a lithium battery, it is telling you that the whole detector needs to be replaced.
  • Read the information on the back of your smoke detector to determine two key facts: age and type of detector.  If the manufacture date is before 3-10-03, replace the detector immediately. Smoke detectors are not reliable for more than 10 years of service, even if the horn still makes a  beeping sound.  If you only have ionization detectors in your home, add at least one photoelectric detector on each level of the house this weekend. While ionization detectors alert to fast burning fires up to 55 seconds faster than photoelectric, they can be 40 minutes slower for slow-burning, smoldering fires.
  • If you have problems with “nuisance alarms” when you cook or when someone takes a shower, replace ionization detectors within 20 feet of the kitchen or bathroom with photoelectric units. Photoelectric detectors seldom give a nuisance alarm.
  • Help your neighbors check the condition of their detectors if they are not able to safely reach them to replace batteries or detectors.
  • If you have questions on smoke detectors, please call Spokane Fire Department at 625-7058 or contact Jan Doherty at jdoherty@spokanefire.org.

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

Spokane Fire Department

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