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

ISSUING OFFICER: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/24/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1223 E. 13th
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99202

NARRATIVE: On Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 12:17 P.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a house on fire located at 1223 E. 13th. Engine 7 from their East Central neighborhood location of 1st and Magnolia was the first to arrive and found smoke coming from a wall near an upstairs bedroom. A thermal imaging camera was put to use to assist the crews in locating the obscured fire. It was shortly determined that the hidden fire was behind a wall and above the ceiling in the attic. Ladder 4's crew assisted the fire attack efforts by removing wallboard and ceiling in order to expose the hidden flames. Once completed, the fire was quickly extinguished and damage was kept to a minimum. The occupant was able to exit the home on her own after discovering smoke near the upstairs bedroom. 4 engine companies, 1 senior ladder company, a pumper ladder company, a rescue unit and 2 battalion chiefs responded on this fire. The fire was knocked down after 15 minutes and the overhaul process took about an hour and a half. 19 firefighters responded to this alarm and there were no injuries. Currently, the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department is focusing on the electrical circuits within the home as the suspected cause of the fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Undetermined at this time, however the Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department is currently focusing on the electrical circuits within the home as the suspected cause of the fire.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Fire damage to the ceiling, walls, insulation, attic and structural supports.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 19
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

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

ISSUING OFFICER: Bruce Moline/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/24/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Multiple Alarms
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 310 N. Madelia
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99202

NARRATIVE: On Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 3:28 P.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded 6 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, 1 pumper ladder company, a rescue company and 2 battalion chiefs to a report of a fire in a 200 foot grain elevator and silo located at 310 N. Madelia. Fire crews could see a significant amount of black smoke coming from numerous windows including the top floor and roof area of a grain silo as they were en-route to the scene. This complex of silos used to be owned by North Pacific Grain Growers but is now owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The fire crews were hampered by cold temperatures, winds and the need to develop a water supply and attack hose lines at a high elevation above ground. As a result of this, a second alarm was ordered which brought an additional 2 engine companies and a ladder company to the fire. The building at one time did have fire department connections on its exterior for the fire department to use for their hose lays, but due to the vacant status of this structure, those connections had been removed some time ago. Because of this additional complication, firefighters had to raise and extend Ladder 4's aerial ladder and then put together a hose lay stringing the hose up the aerial which went up to and through the 5th floor window on the south side of the silo. Fire crews were then able to successfully attack the fire which was found to be inside one of the grain hoppers and chute system. Residual grain was found to be burning inside the hopper and chute and the fire attack team accomplished the knockdown of the fire after approximately 40 minutes. Many crews that were first on the scene had to use the interior spiral stairway to get to the level of the fire. This task was arduous and required many companies of firefighters to get the proper tools and equipment to the fire floor. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians. The cause of the fire at this time is undetermined, but is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit. The investigation of this fire will continue through tomorrow.
Crews completed final extinguishment after 2 ½ hours. A total of 42 firefighters including command staff, fought this fire and were released from the scene at 6:00 P.M.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Undetermined at this time. The Special Investigation Unit of the Spokane Fire Department is currently investigating the cause.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Moderate damage to a grain hopper and chute system.
DOLLAR LOSS: 3,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 42
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

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

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Jones
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/23/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 3425 W. Olympic Place
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 1:53 A.M. the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 3425 W. Olympic Place. Eight fire apparatus under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Green responded to this location. This response included 3 engine companies, 1 heavy rescue, 2 ladder trucks, and 2 vehicles. Command engine 16 was first on scene and reported a single-family structure with light smoke showing from side Alpha. They also reported the residents of the structure were accounted for and located on the sidewalk in front of the residence. Fire crews from Engine 16 and Pumper Ladder Truck 13, responding from their neighborhood stations, quickly knocked down the fire that was located in the wall above the fireplace and checked for fire extension into the attic. Other apparatus on scene were assigned to various duties such as Safety, RIT, Water Supply, Search, and Ventilation. There were no injuries to civilians or Fire Fighters on this response.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Cause of this fire was determined to be a defective fireplace.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Wall above fireplace.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 22
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

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

ISSUING OFFICER: AC Schaeffer
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/21/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Information
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 44 W Riverside
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE:
SFD Fire Equipment Operator Alex Mickschl entered a contest to become the next voice of Sparky the Fire Dog. Amazingly, Alex was selected as one of three national finalists. The winner will be determined by online voting between today and Friday. If Alex is selected, the SFD will receive public education materials from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) at NO COST. Because of the limited amount of time for voting, we could really use your help.

This week you, your friends and family can vote for their favorite. YOU CAN VOTE ONCE EACH DAY. We are asking for your support to help us receive much needed public education materials. Visit the link below and cast your vote for Alex.

http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/93168/voteable_entries?view_entries=1

PROBABLE CAUSE: N/A
DAMAGE EXTENT: N/A
DOLLAR LOSS:
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE:
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

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

ISSUING OFFICER: Bob Green/Battalion Chief
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/20/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 1910 W Bridge
CITY: Spokane
STATE: WA
ZIP: 99201

NARRATIVE: The Spokane City Fire Dept. dispatched fire fighting crews and their fire apparatus to 1910 W. Bridge at 20:04 hrs. on Sunday, February 20th, 2011, for a reported structure fire. The first arriving fire companies, E4 and L4 from the Browne's Addition neighborhood Fire Station, reported heavy fire showing from a second floor window of a 2 story wood/frame residence at the very front of the building. The crew of E4 quickly donned their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and immediately went to the front door with a charged hose lead and proceeded to force entry into the locked structure. Once inside they made their way to the interior stairway and up the stairs to the second floor where they encountered the hot and rapidly growing fire that by now was burning freely in a large open room. As they were putting water on the fire upstairs, other arriving crews were outside laddering the building and scaling the sharply sloped roof in order to cut a hole over where the main body of fire was burning to allow the pent-up heat and toxic gases to vent into the cold night air. Additional hose lines were stretched into the building to provide protection for the initial interior attack crew and to assist in the actual extinguishment of the fire. Other fire crews were searching the interior of the structure and to everyone's relief those crews reported that the house was vacant and that it appeared to be in the process of being remodeled. Still other crews were sent inside the building to pull the ceilings on the second floor to get access to the fire that had spread into the attic space between the second floor ceiling and the underside of the roof. All of these necessary and well-coordinated efforts came together and achieved a fairly rapid knock-down of this fire. There were no reports of any serious injuries to any of the fire fighters at the scene. The fire was contained to the second floor, to the attic space, and to some of the structural members of the roof. The cause of this fire is currently being investigated by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit. Fire crews were kept on scene all through the night on "fire watch" to keep an eye on the scene until the investigators could take a look at the structure in the light of day. 33 fire fighters arrived at this fire on 9 pieces of fire fighting apparatus including 5 engines, 2 senior ladder trucks, 1 pumper-ladder truck, 1 heavy rescue apparatus, and 2 command vehicles.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Under investigation.
DAMAGE EXTENT: Heavy fire damage to the second floor, the attic space, and to some of the structural components of the roof system.
DOLLAR LOSS: 30,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 33
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

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

ISSUING OFFICER: Battalion Chief Clive Jones
DATE OF INCIDENT: 2/6/2011
INCIDENT TYPE: Structure Fire
INCIDENT ADDRESS: 15 Wast Cortland
CITY: Spokane
STATE: Wa
ZIP: 99205

NARRATIVE: On Sunday February 6th, 2011 at16:35 hours the Spokane Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at 15 West Courtland. The Spokane Fire Department responded two senior ladders, two engine companies, one pumper ladder, and one heavy rescue unit along with two Battalion Chiefs. The first arriving apparatus was SL2 and reported light smoke showing on the back side of the structure. SL2 entered the structure and quickly located the cause which was a small attic fire. It was extinguished with a hose lead from SE3. PL13 along with SL2 pulled ceiling to expose any areas where the fire may have extended. No extension of the fire was found, and all fire companies were returned in service.

PROBABLE CAUSE: At this time, the cause is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Departments Special Investigation Unit.
DAMAGE EXTENT: The structure suffered a loss of $4,000 in damages.
DOLLAR LOSS: 4,000
FIREFIGHTER RESPONSE: 23
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