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Commercial Business Fire

Incident #:  2012008380
Date of Incident:  2/28/2012
Issuing Officer:  AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Monday, February 27, 2012 at 11:36 PM, 7 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 2 Senior Ladders and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Green and Fielder responded to a building fire at 4009 East Mission Avenue (G & W Safety Supplies). The first 911 call came from a Good Samaritan that observed a fire from across the river, but initially was unable to determine the location. The citizen drove to the building and subsequently reported the fire. The first company arrived within 2-minutes and found an intense fire outside the northwest section of the large mixed use brick/masonry building. The incident was upgraded to a working fire early which added the SFD's remaining Ladder Company and additional off-duty resources. Ladder companies had to force entry into multiple sides of the building which allowed engine companies access to the building's interior where they successfully located and extinguished the fire. The Ladder companies also used their aerial ladder to access the roof and vertically ventilated above the fire to assist the fire attack and limit the horizontal spread of damage. Additional arriving companies also performed a quick, well-coordinated search of the premises for any victims in the entire building. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters on this incident.

Cause:
The fire is determined to be incendiary; and the cause is clearly intentional. The SFD's Special Investigation Unit is aggressively investigating this case.

Damage:
The interior of the building affected is primarily office space. The monetary loss to the facility is still being estimated with the assistance from the occupants. The SFD's aggressive efforts prevented the fire from traveling to bulk warehouse areas where a significant amount of ammunition and products were stored.

# Firefighters Responding: 26

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Update on this morning's residence fire

Incident #:  2012008146
Date of Incident:  2/26/2012
Issuing Officer:  AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
This morning's residential fire at 404 East Rockwell has been determined to be accidental and caused by combustibles left near a kitchen stove that was inadvertently turned on.

Cause:
N/A

Damage:
N/A

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Early Morning Fire

Incident #:  2012008146
Date of Incident:  2/26/2012
Issuing Officer:  Craig Cornelius / BC

Narrative:
On Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 03:30 AM, the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 4 Engines,1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue and two Battalion Chiefs to 404 E. Rockwell for a reported kitchen fire. Engine 2, under the direction of Lt. Kurt Cole was first on the scene and reported that he had a one story, residential with heavy smoke and fire coming form the rear of the home. He verified that everyone was safely out of the home and along with firefighter Steven Harms, extended a hose line through the front door and attacked the fire. Simultaneously, Ladder 2 went to the roof and ventilated above the fire. Additional arriving companies provided support with back-up hose lines. Engine's 8s crew located and rescued a dog that was still inside the home. Although the main body of fire was knocked down within 20 minutes, firefighters were on the scene for several hours overhauling the scene to verify the fire was out. There were no injuries at this incident. One tenant and two dogs were displaced. The kitchen and rear portion of the home sustained heavy fire damage. At this time, the fire is still under investigation, but the cause appears to be accidental in nature.

Cause:
Final cause is still under investigation.

Damage:
Entire rear portion of home sustained heavy fire damage.

# Firefighters Responding: 23

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Natural Gas Safety--SMELL. GO. LET US KNOW.

 

Natural gas related incidents are a common call for the SFD HazMat team. Natural gas is a fossil fuel found naturally underground and mostly comprised of methane, a colorless and odorless gas. Because it is highly flammable and odorless it posses a major safety concern, so an odorant is added that gives off a foul smell. Natural gas is used in both residential and commercial properties. It is used for heating, water heaters, stoves, clothes dryers, fire places, outdoor lighting, and in industrial processes.

Natural gas does have an excellent safety record, but emergencies do occur. SFD and Avista want citizens to be in the know if you smell gas: 

SMELL. GO. LET US KNOW.

 SMELL – Identify a possible gas leak.
•Unusual odor or scent (rotten egg or sulfur smell)
•Unusual hissing sound
•Blowing dirt
GO•Leave the structure or area
•Don’t start a vehicle in a garage or near any natural gas odor
•Don’t use any electrical or battery-operated device, such as a light switch, phone, appliance or garage door opener
•Don’t smoke or use a match or lighter
•Don’t try to find the leak

LET US KNOWIf you suspect a natural gas leak or other gas emergency and are unsure of the severity or what to do, evacuate the area immediately and call 9-1-1 from a safe location. Do not use your telephone. This includes cellular phones and all types of portable communication and electronic devices that have a battery. These can spark and create a source of ignition.

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South Battalion High Rise Fire

Incident #:  2012007127
Date of Incident:  2/19/2012
Issuing Officer:  AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 2:44 PM, Engine 1 and Ladder 1 were dispatched to an automatic fire alarm sounding at 601 West Main Avenue (Chase/Washington Financial Center). When the companies arrived and made contact with occupants, they were told of smoke on the upper floors of the 15-story building. The company officer upgraded the incident to a working fire which added six additional companies of Spokane Firefighters; including 4 Engines, 2 Senior Ladders and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Green and Fielder. While the full alarm was responding, Firefighters from Engine/Ladder 1 were assembling equipment (high rise hose kits, SCBA bottles and tools) to carry to the fifth floor and prepare for an offensive fire attack. The South Battalion Chief arrived quickly, established command and based on Spokane County's High Rise Guideline, upgraded the incident to a 2nd and subsequent 3rd Alarm to bring the number and types of resources needed to fight the fire safely. Unfortunately, the building was constructed before a fire suppression system (sprinkler system) was required for all floors. The owners had added fire pumps and additional risers over the years with a plan to protect the entire building; however, the sixth floor had not been upgraded. As companies arrived, the incident commander assigned them to support the fire attack on the 6th floor. Early arriving Engine Companies were utilized to support the building's standpipe system to aid the fire attack while Ladder Companies were assigned to search the building's 15 stories to ensure no one was in need of rescuing; as well as tactically ventilating the building. As per policy, Chiefs took control of the building's internal safety, communications and ventilation systems to assist with the fire attack. Firefighters rapidly made their way through the light smoke on the lower floors and up the stairwells to floor 5 where the attack was assembled. A working fire was located by fire attack teams in offices on the 6th floor and was quickly extinguished in just 20 minutes. Several fire companies spent a significant amount of time overhauling and protecting contents with tarps and controlling water runoff from the fire's extinguishment. There were no civilian or firefighters injured as a result of this fire.

Cause:
The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Damage:
There was significant content damage to an IT room and adjacent office. The structure's integrity does not appear to be impacted.

# Firefighters Responding: 49

Dollar Loss: $200000.0000

Other Fire Districts Responding: Fire District 1, Fire District 9

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Broken Water main at Wellesley and Perry

Incident #:  2012006685
Date of Incident:  2/16/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe

Narrative:
On February 16th at 17:36 Spokane Engine 15 was dispatched to a report of flooding at the intersection of Wellesley and Perry. When Engine 15 arrived there was extensive water flowing in the intersection from a broken 12 inch water main. Two additional Engine Companies, one Ladder Company and two Chief Officers responded to assist in the mitigation of the incident. One home on Wellesley had water entering the basement and was protected from further damage by fire companies. There was also flooding to the intersection of Morton and Hoffman due to the elevation change. Two homes were threatened on Hoffman by the rising water but were protected by the other fire companies that responded to the incident. The Police Department responded quickly and controlled traffic until the Street Department could put up barricades. Avista was called to the scene to check the affected homes for natural gas or electrical issues due to the flooding. The Water Department did close the valves to the broken Water Main and the water slowly receded. The incident was turned over to the Street and Water Department. Wellesley was closed from Nevada to Pittsburg throughout the night for the repair and is now open for one lane of travel in each direction.

Cause:
Unknown

Damage:
There is damage to the street intersection and water main. There is minor water damage to one of the home's basement.

# Firefighters Responding: 15

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North Battalion Apartment Fire

Incident #:  2012006448
Date of Incident:  2/15/2012
Issuing Officer:  AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
On Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 02:04 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Jones and Haworth, responded to a Structure Fire at 727 West Glass. While enroute to the incident, companies were notified by Fire Dispatch of multiple telephone reports indicating flames showing and that civilians may be trapped in the building. The first company and Battalion Chief arrived within 5-minutes to find a three-story large, wood frame apartment building with heavy fire showing from the address side on the third floor. The first arriving Engine and Ladder companies went to work immediately after arriving and stretched hose lines to the third floor in an attempt to control the fire's progress and limit damage to the unit of origin. Simultaneously, the Ladder Company went to the roof and offensively ventilated directly above the fire. Additional arriving companies secured a protected stairway and accommodated safe egress for residents that were trying to escape through the intense smoke. Early in the incident it was discovered that the closest fire hydrant was several blocks away and would require a personnel-intense operation to stretch several hundred feet of 5" supply line (in 20 degree temperatures, ice and on the Post Street Hill). All companies assigned on the first alarm were immediately dedicated to searching the building while trying to suppress the fire's progress when they arrived; based on the water supply challenge and growing need for resources, the initial alarm was upgraded to a working fire and modified to include an additional Ladder and two Engine Companies. The additional companies teamed up to force entry and search each apartment unit on the third floor conditions for savable civilians. Those companies worked under heavy smoke/fire conditions and were able to evacuate several civilians to safety and eventually to an awaiting, warm STA bus requested by the Incident Commander. Swift and decisive action by first arriving fire crews which came from neighborhood Fire Stations 13, 2 and 15 allowed a successful search of the entire fire-floor and confined the fire to primarily two units. The fire was declared under control in approximately two hours and one resident from the third floor received minor burns and smoke inhalation. The adult male was treated by Fire Department Paramedics, however he refused transport. One firefighter received an injury, however remained on-duty to complete his shift.

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

Damage:
Damage appears to be limited to two units on the third floor including structural areas in the roof. Aggressive firefighting, leadership and the execution of a structured plan prevented extension of the fire to horizontal areas in the attic as well as to any of the remaining 16 units in the building. Without those actions, and recognizing that this building did not have a fire protection system (sprinklers), this incident would likely have escalated to a multiple alarm incident with severe injuries and likely fatalities. The Inland Northwest Chapter of the Red Cross is assisting the occupants (approximately 40) with temporary shelter and assistance. The building owners have contentedly secured properties in their inventory to relocate displaced residents for the long-term and were on scene this morning to help with the process.

# Firefighters Responding: 32

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North Battalion House Fire

Incident #:  2012006061
Date of Incident:  2/12/2012
Issuing Officer:  Battalion Chief Mike Thompson

Narrative:
On February 12, 2012 at 09:49 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Thompson and Moline, responded to a Structure Fire at 1927 West Augusta Avenue in Northwest Spokane. Spokane Firefighters arrived within 4-minutes to find heavy smoke and flames showing from the roof and second floor window on the back side of the house. The first arriving Chief declared a working fire and added an additional senior ladder to the incident while firefighters made quick work of the fire which had spread throughout the second floor and the attic. Arriving engine companies stretched pre-connected hose lines into multiple areas of the structure to confine the fire's progress while ladder companies went to the roof to provide vertical ventilation. A search of the structure was completed and it was found to be vacant. The well coordinated effort of firefighters extinguished the fire within 1 hour, salvage and overhaul continued for an additional 2 hours. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters during this incident.

Cause:
The cause was determined to be electrical in nature.

Damage:
The second floor and roof received heavy damage. The electrical service to the structure was disconnected until repairs are made.

# Firefighters Responding: 22

Dollar Loss: $80,000

End Of Release
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