South Hill Apartment Fire
Incident #: 2012053362 Date of Incident: 12/09/2012 Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Steve Sabo
Narrative:
At 8:40 PM on Sunday, December 9th, the Spokane Fire Department responded two ladder trucks, four engines, one rescue truck and two battalion chiefs to a reported fire at 607 S. Monroe Street. Engine and Ladder 4 arrived on scene within four and one-half minutes from their Browne’s Addition station and reported smoke from the attic of the three-story Victorian style house, which had been converted to ten apartments. While Engine 4’s crew advanced a fire attack hose to the third floor, Ladder 4’s crew confirmed that all occupants of the structure had evacuated, and then began searching for the source of the smoke. As other crews arrived they were assigned to other necessary tasks including laddering the roof in case roof ventilation was needed, establishing a water supply from a hydrant, extending a backup attack hose and establishing the required rapid intervention team in case firefighter rescue was needed. The smoldering fire in the attic was quickly located, using thermal imaging cameras, and extinguishment was accomplished by opening a portion of the ceiling in one of the third floor apartments. Although crews were able to keep damage to the structure to a minimum, one apartment will not be habitable until repairs to the structure and to the electrical wiring can be completed. Until then, the Red Cross is assisting the occupant of that apartment with temporary housing.
During the fire, Spokane Police Officers assisted in routing traffic around the scene, which closed the south Monroe Street hill for several hours. Street Department crews also sanded the hill, due to icing conditions created during firefighting operations. AMR responded an ambulance crew to standby during the fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
Cause:
Investigators from the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit determined the cause of the fire to be malfunctioning electrical wiring in the attic.
Damage:
Damage was confined to burned ceiling joists and the removed portion of ceiling area. Also, electrical wiring in the fire area will need to be replaced.
# Firefighters Responding: 24
Dollar Loss: $ 10,000
End Of Release For more information on this release please call (509) 625-7002
For many of those served by SFD, the coming days will be anything but a holiday. Fires caused by candles and carelessness with fire will certainly damage homes, dampen spirits - and sadly, 
A Christmas tree is extremely flammable, especially after it’s been in your home for several weeks. The combination of oil, pitch and dry branches is excellent fuel that if ignited, can become an eight-foot blow torch in your home. The key is to keep your tree as fresh as possible and reduce the chances that it ever ignites. The SFD advises the following safety tips this season.
