DATE OF INCIDENT: 1/6/2009
INCIDENT TYPE: HazMat
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1717 E. Sinto
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99291
NARRATIVE: On Tuesday, January 06, 2009 at 07:20AM the Spokane Fire Department dispatched Engine 7 to investigate the report of a gas like smell in the school kitchen at Stevens Elementary School located at 1717 E. Sinto.
Engine 7 under the direction of Lt. Kelly Smith arrived on the scene and made contact with the school's kitchen personnel. Lt. Smith was briefed of their concerns. She was informed that the school had not started, but that they already had early arriving students and teachers. Lt. Smith called in a regular fire department response to prepare for the anticipated arrival of the students. The school faculty had already initiated their school evacuation plan.
A unified command was established. Included at the command post location were fire department chief officers, the school's principal officers, and Spokane Police and staff members from Spokane Public Schools. Personnel from the fire department's Hazardous Materials Team and Avista were brought in for air monitoring. A request was made for buses to provide a warm place for the children.
Strategic objectives were established and included provisions for the evacuation of the school, accountability and protection of the students, an assessment of the potential leak issue and its abatement. In the event the fire department could not solve the problem, the school faculty started preparing for parent notification and the reunification with their children.
A Haz Mat entry group was established. The kitchen staff and maintenance personnel were interviewed while the Haz Mat group searched the entire school, monitoring the air as they went. This group uses specialized instrumentation that monitors for Carbon Monoxide, Natural Gas, and the current Oxygen levels. Command identified that one of the school's air handling systems that normally ventilates the kitchen area was shut down during the holiday break. This system was reactivated by maintenance personnel and the kitchen area was quickly ventilated.
A secondary search and an air monitoring of every room in the school was performed by the Haz Mat group. CO and Gas levels were zero. The Oxygen levels were slightly under 21 percent which is normal. Avista gas specialists checked out the gas appliances feeding the kitchen area. No deficiencies were found. Students and teachers were allowed to re-enter the school and start the day.
The Stevens Elementary Faculty did an outstanding job assisting the Fire Department at this incident. The representatives that responded from the Spokane Public Schools were very supportive and demonstrated the highest regard for the safety of the students and workers.
PROBABLE CAUSE: A ventilation system that was shut down.
DAMAGE EXTENT: None
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 28
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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