Friday, May 31, 2013

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

Media Release

Midnight Fire

Incident #: 2013022941
Date of Incident: 05/31/2013
Issuing Officer: C Cornelius / Battalion Chief

Narrative:
 In the early morning hours of May 31, 2013 the Spokane Fire Department’s Dispatch center received several calls about a vacant structure that was on fire, located at Princeton and Florida.  At 00:42 hours six fire apparatus and 2 chief officers were dispatched to the call for help.  Responding crews could see heavy fire and smoke while still blocks away.  The fire was upgraded to a “working fire” while en-route by Engine 8.  Engine 8 was the first to arrive and reported a two story structure, set on the hillside to the north of Princeton.  Fire was coming through the roof and from every door and window in the vacant structure.  Multiple hose lines were advanced to confine the fire to the abandoned home.  The fire was brought under control within 45 minutes.  Fire crews were kept on scene throughout the night and Investigators will follow up on fire cause determination in the morning. 

Cause:
Under Investigation

Damage:
Total loss.

# Firefighters Responding: 23

Dollar Loss: $ undetermined

End Of Release
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Friday, May 10, 2013

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

Media Release

Brush Fire From Fallen Tree

Incident #: 2013019596
Date of Incident: 05/09/2013
Issuing Officer: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief

Narrative:
On Thursday, May 9th, 2013 at 4:17 P.M.  the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a power line problem in the vicinity of South Loop Ave. Engine 6 from their West Plains station location on Spotted Road was the crew responding and found a series of brush fires burning on a hillside off of 16th ave. between Milton and Grandview. They also discovered a downed pine tree that was blocking 16th entirely that was still in contact with power, phone and cable lines. Engine 6’s size up included the request for additional resources which the dispatcher sent immediately. A primary focus was to protect a home that sat immediately above one of the fires racing up a steep slope. Engine 6 took this assignment while other crews were beginning to flank the fire from below in order to contain it. Their flanking actions consisted of knocking down flames with water and foam, cutting off the head of the fire, digging fire line by hand and then finally, mopping up all the hotspots that remained. Meanwhile, Engine 6 was busy stringing hose lines to adequately protect the home and other homes further up the slope should the fire get past them. Due to the hard work of the fire crews, the fires were all kept very small. In all there were a total of 4 separate fires. The largest was 2/10 of an acre followed by one that was 1/10 of an acre. The other two fires were classified as “spots” in size. Total area burned was approximately 4/10 of an acre. The Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit along with the Avista Company is currently investigating the fire and origins of the fallen tree. At this time, the cause is attributed to a tree that was purposely fallen. The tree contacted numerous power, cable and phone lines which caused a series of arcs igniting the nearby grass and brush fuel. Damage from the fire is limited to wildland brush, grass and timber fuel. Avista is assessing damage to their equipment. Avista will also be working through the night and into the early morning hours attempting to restore power to the neighboring areas. Fire crews will be patrolling the area throughout the night to make sure hotspots are completely extinguished.

Cause:
Arcing from power lines after a tree was fallen directly into the lines.

Damage:
Damage to Avista's power lines and support structures. Damage to CenturyLink equipment and Xfinity equipment. Brush fire damage was confined to wildland grass and brush and natural cover and habitat. Total acreage burned is estimated to be 4/10 of an acre from a total of 4 fires. Dollar loss below is a rough estimate only.

# Firefighters Responding: 20

Dollar Loss: $ 50,000

Other Agencies Responding:
The Avista Company

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

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

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

Media Release

North Battalion Apartment Fire

Incident #: 2013019415
Date of Incident: 05/08/2013
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Wednesday May 8, 2013 at 3:31 PM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Thompson were disparched to an apartment fire at 1208 East Nora.
 
While enroute to the incident, companies were notified by Fire Dispatch that an adult and small child from one of the apartment units were not accounted for and reportedly still inside the structure. The fire communication specialists handling the call updated the companies responding and advised the residents to evacuate and to alert their neighbors.  The first in Chief also modified the response while en route and added another ladder company, two AMR ambulances and AMR supervisor.
 
The first unit arrived within 3-minutes to find a three-story house converted into an apartment building with heavy smoke and fire showing from the rear of the structure.  The first arriving engine and ladder company went to work immediately upon their arrival and entered the building from the address side to perform a rapid search for savable victims.  As companies arrived from multiple City Fire Stations, they were assigned to fireground tasks that included laying over 1000 feet of 5” supply line (large diameter hose) to the closest hydrants to secure enough water to contain the fire.  Additionally, ladder companies used ground ladders to access the roof and ventilated above the fire to release intense heat and flames in attempt to create a safer atmosphere for the firefighters inside.  Additional companies were assigned to support search for victims while placing large hoselines inside the building to suppress the fire and protect the firefighters as they searched through dense smoke and extreme heat for missing child and mother.  Although the initial companies encountered intense fire behavior, extreme temperatures and multiple collapses from the third story and roof; they were able to successfully complete a search in the basement, first and second floors without locating the missing family members.  Fortunately the family was located and accounted for just after the collapses had made the structure untenable.   

Although the fire was moving quickly and was anticipated to spread to the adjacent homes, garages and cars; the swift and decisive action by all of the fire companies on scene allowed for the loss to be limited to only the building (1208 East Nora) and a garage behind the address.  The fire was declared under control in three hours and four firefighters suffered injuries (1 burn and 3 heat-related illnesses).   

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

Damage:
Structural loss to the building, as well as collateral automotive and content loss is still being tabulated.  Seven adults and one child are not able to inhabit the building and are being assisted by the American Red Cross

# Firefighters Responding: 29

Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department, American Medical Response, Avista

End Of Release
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Saturday, May 4, 2013

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

Media Release

South Battalion Structure Fire

Incident #: 2013018697
Date of Incident: 05/04/2013
Issuing Officer: BC Mike Thompson

Narrative:
The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire apparatus and their crews to 1227 W. 6th Ave.  at 14:46 hrs on Saturday, May 4th for a reported structure fire. As the crew from Station 4, located in the Browne's Edition section of the City, was approaching the address they could see large amounts of black smoke in the sky and reported by radio that this was a working fire and requested an up-grade to the alarm which would bring additional resources to the incident scene. L4 arrived on the scene and reported a two and a half story wood/frame dwelling with heavy black smoke showing from the roof and eaves of the building and immediately made a decision to make an offensive attack on the fire. As other apparatus began arriving on scene the Incident Commander started making assignments that included water supply, Safety Officer, search and rescue, fire attack, back-up hose lines to protect the fire fighters already engaged in the interior attack, vertical ventilation on the roof, horizontal ventilation at the ground floor level and the deployment of a RIT Team to be in position should the rescue of a lost or injured fire fighter become necessary.  A complete search of the entire building was ordered, as per Fire Dept. policy, to ensure that there was no one inside while the simultaneous fire attack and ventilation efforts were undertaken. Fortunately the search found no victims in the building and the very hot and well-advanced fire was brought under control in about 60 minutes. Fire damage to the structure was considerable and much of the interior of the building had to be opened by the fire fighters to ensure that no fire was concealed in the walls, ceilings, and attic space. A large portion of the roof had to be opened to allow the hot, toxic gasses to ventilate into the atmosphere. The areas of the building not damaged by the fire itself were severely damaged by the heavy smoke conditions that were present.  Seven engines, two ladders, one Heavy Rescue Truck, and two Command vehicles responded to this incident with 33 fire fighters on scene to get the fire confined and extinguished.  

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

Damage:
Second floor and roof

# Firefighters Responding: 33

Dollar Loss: $ 100,000.

End Of Release
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Thursday, May 2, 2013

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

Media Release

South Battalion House Fire

Incident #: 2013018391
Date of Incident: 05/02/2013
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo

Narrative:
At 2:20 P.M. Thursday, May 2nd, the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported house fire at 1837 E. 8th Avenue in the City of Spokane. The first fire company arrived on scene within five minutes and reported a one and one-half story wood frame house with heavy fire visible on the back of the house and heavy smoke inside. The homeowner reported there was no one else in the home, and fire crews searching the house confirmed that. The fire was knocked down within thirty minutes, but overhaul of the burned and fire damaged areas continued for more than six hours. Fire crews will continue checking on the house throughout the evening to assure there are no hidden pockets of fire remaining. Damage to the house was extensive, with fire damage to the rear exterior, as well as finished living areas in the basement, main floor and the second floor. In addition, the house sustained considerable smoke and water damage throughout. The house will be uninhabitable until extensive repairs can be made. Five adult occupants of the house are being assisted with temporary housing by the Red Cross. One firefighter sustained a puncture wound to his hand during overhaul operations. He was treated by paramedics at the scene and returned to work. In all, thirty-one fire department personnel responded on nine trucks and two command vehicles.

Cause:
An investigator from the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit determined the area of origin of the fire to be outside a ground level back door. The exact cause is still under investigation, but it is considered to be accidental in nature.

Damage:
Damage to the house and contents is estimated to be $100,000.

# Firefighters Responding: 31

Dollar Loss: $ 100,000

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

Spokane Fire Department

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