Tuesday, February 19, 2013

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

Media Release

North Spokane Apartment Fire

Incident #: 2013007708
Date of Incident: 02/19/2013
Issuing Officer: C Cornelius / Battalion Chief

Narrative:
  On Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 09:15 A.M., 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue and two Battalion Chiefs responded to an apartment fire at 603 E. Houston Ave.  While en-route Fire Dispatch reported that they had received multiple calls reporting fire on the third floor of the apartment building. 
Engine 15 was the first company to arrive at the apartment complex.  Engine 13’s officer Lt. Reiser, reported that he had a three story wood frame apartment building with grey smoke showing from the rear of the structure, and fire starting to show from a corner unit.  Incoming apparatus were immediately tasked with securing a water supply for the hose lines and searching the adjacent units on the upper floor of the building.  The quick decisive actions taken by Engine 15’s crew in conjunction with support from the other arriving firefighters brought the fire under control within 20 minutes.  The apartment unit where the fire originated sustained heavy damage, however, the fire was confined solely to this unit with some damage to the attic above.
Fire investigators were on site most of the afternoon processing the fire scene as the cause appeared suspicious in nature.  No injuries were reported at this incident.   Only the tenants in the fire unit have been displaced.

Cause:
 Still under investigation

Damage:
 Unit 306

# Firefighters Responding: 25

Dollar Loss: $ 25000

End Of Release
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Sunday, February 17, 2013

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

Media Release

North Battalion Structure Fire

Incident #: 2013007486
Date of Incident: 02/17/2013
Issuing Officer: B.C. Mike Thompson

Narrative:
 On February 17th, 2013 at 4:58pm The Spokane Fire Department responded two dedicated ladders, four engines, one heavy Rescue, and two Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 1712 East Sharp. Upon arrival companies reported smoke under all the soffits. The first arriving Engine company stretched an attack lead to the interior of the home while ladder crews searched for the occupants and prepared the roof for ventilation. Firefighters located the fire in the attic space and quickly opened up the ceiling to expose it. The well coordinated effort extinguished the fire rapidly, minimizing the damage to the structure. Companies remained on scene approximately two hours removing smoldering insulation and cleaning up the debris.

Cause:
 The cause is under investigation by the SIU

Damage:
 There is some structural and wiring damage to the attic area.

# Firefighters Responding: 24

Dollar Loss: $ 3,000

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

Media Release

North Battalion Garage Fire

Incident #: 2013007376
Date of Incident: 02/17/2013
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Clive Jones

Narrative:
  On February 16, 2013 at 12:15 AM six companies of the Spokane Fire Department that consisted of four engines, one senior ladder, and one heavy rescue responded to a reported garage fire at 1518 East Liberty.  Ladder and Engine 2 were first to arrive, responding from their Logan Neighborhood fire station Ladder 2 reported a detached garage fully involved with fire.  The fire was confined to the garage through quick actions by all companies on scene. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians as a result of this incident.

Cause:
 The fire's cause is under investigation by the SFD's SIU

Damage:
 Total loss of the garage

# Firefighters Responding: 19

Dollar Loss: $ 20,000.

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

Media Release

North Battalion Garage Fire

Incident #: 2013007376
Date of Incident: 02/17/2013
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Clive Jones

Narrative:
  On February 16, 2013 at 12:15 AM six companies of the Spokane Fire Department that consisted of four engines, one senior ladder, and one heavy rescue responded to a reported garage fire at 1518 East Liberty.  Ladder and Engine 2 were first to arrive, responding from their Logan Neighborhood fire station Ladder 2 reported a detached garage fully involved with fire.  The fire was confined to the garage through quick actions by all companies on scene. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians as a result of this incident.

Cause:
 The fire's cause is under investigation by the SFD's SIU

Damage:
 Total loss of the garage

# Firefighters Responding: 19

Dollar Loss: $ 20,000.

End Of Release
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Sunday, February 10, 2013

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

Media Release

Apartment Fire with Rescue

Incident #: 2013006426
Date of Incident: 02/10/2013
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
 On Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 12:03 PM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Moline responded to an apartment fire at 3724 North Cook Street. While en route to the incident, companies were notified the resident in apartment 248 smelled smoke for the past couple hours and described it as worsening.  The fire communication specialists handling the call updated the companies responding and advised the residents to evacuate and pull the fire alarm to alert their neighbors.  The first in Chief also modified the response while en route to add an additional ladder company, AMR ambulance and supervisor.
 
The first fire company arrived within 5-minutes to find a two-story apartment building with approximately eight units, however no smoke was showing from the building initially.  Upon their investigation however, they discovered a working fire in a lower unit in the apartment complex. The Engine and Ladder went to work immediately to secure a water supply and stretch a hoseline in attempt to control the fire’s progress toward other living areas in the building.  Simultaneously, companies searched the apartment unit under smoke conditions and located an adult male in bed and quickly removed him to safety.  All companies assigned on the initial alarm were immediately dedicated to searching the initial and adjacent units while trying to suppress the fire’s progress when they arrived. SFD Paramedics treated the adult male and he was subsequently transported to a local hospital and reportedly in fair condition.

Swift and decisive action by first arriving fire crews allowed a successful search of the entire building which resulted in one victim being rescued and confirmation that all other residents accounted for.  The fire was declared under control in less than 30-minutes hours and no firefighter injuries were reported. 

Cause:
 The cause is under investigation by the SIU.

Damage:
 The majority of damage is located in the kitchen area. The family is being assisted by Red Cross as the unit of fire origin is not currently inhabitable.

# Firefighters Responding: 24

Dollar Loss: $ 12000

Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department,

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

Media Release

West Central Structure Fire

Incident #: 2013006407
Date of Incident: 02/08/2013
Issuing Officer: AC Schaeffer

Narrative:
 On Sunday February 10, 2013 at 8:50 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 4 Engines under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Moline, responded to a structure fire at 1924 W Augusta in Spokane’s West Central Neighborhood.  While companies were responding, 911 callers indicated that heavy smoke could be seen from the home and occupants appeared to be evacuating. Station 3 firefighters arrived within 4-minutes to find heavy smoke showing from the east side of the single story, single family home.  While en route, the North Battalion Chief requested the incident to be upgraded to a 'working fire' adding an additional Ladder Company, AMR Ambulance and an AMR Supervisor to the scene.  The first arriving ladder company immediately laddered the roof from several sides and manually cut ventilation holes above the heaviest area of fire-involvement to allow engine companies to attack the fire on the first floor and basement. At one point in the incident, all firefighters had to abandoned their efforts and withdraw due to untenable fire conditions in the basement below them.  Once the fire was attacked from the exterior and progress was made in the fight, the firefighters returned to the interior to resume their aggressive attack. The well coordinated effort of firefighters confined flames to the home’s basement and first floor, extinguishing the blaze in just over 1 hour. There were no injuries reported from civilians, however two canines perished from the smoke and extreme heat.

Cause:
 Members from the SIU have just arrived on the scene and details regarding the investigation will be released when available.

Damage:
Firefighters are still on scene and will be for several additional hours, protecting the occupant’s belongings from additional damage during the salvage and overhaul operations. Though loss from the fire was limited to the basement and areas of the first floor, the need to secure the residence’s utilities render it untenable. The Inland Northwest Chapter of American Red Cross is assisting two adults with interim placement assistance.

# Firefighters Responding: 24

Dollar Loss: $ 75000

Other Agencies Responding:
Spokane Police Department,

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

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Monday, February 4, 2013

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

Media Release

Downtown Apartment Fire

Incident #: 2013005486
Date of Incident: 02/04/2013
Issuing Officer: BC Dave Haworth

Narrative:
 On Monday, February 04, the Spokane Fire Department dispatched 1 heavy rescue, 7 engines, 3 ladder trucks, and 2 battalion chiefs to  a report of smoke in an apartment building at 123 N Bernard. The caller said the alarm was sounding and there was smoke in the hallway on the second floor. Fire Dispatch advised the tenents to evacuate. First arriving companies from the downtown stations entered the building to ensure all tenents were evacuated and to search for the source of the smoke. A fire was found in one of the units on the second floor. In addition to the crews evacuating the second floor tenents, other crews advanced hose lines to the second floor, evacuated the third and fourth floors, and made sure no fire had extendend from the room of origin. The fire was quickly extinguished and crews spent over an hour removing the smoke from the building. The fire was confined to the room of origin. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

Cause:
 The Spokane Fire Department SIU investigated and the cause of this fire has been determined to be accidental. The specific cause is energized electrical cords running under area rugs. The area rugs were located in a well traveled walk way inside the unit. Over time the constant stepping on the cords degraded the cord’s outer jacket insulation allowing an arc, spark or resistive heating to take place. 

Damage:
 Damage was confined to the unit of origin with light smoke damage throughout the second floor. All occupants were able to return to their units with the exception of the fire unit tenent.  He will be temporarily house in another unit.

# Firefighters Responding: 35

Dollar Loss: $ 15000

Other Agencies Responding:
Avista, Spokanimal

End Of Release
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Sunday, February 3, 2013

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

Media Release

North Battalion Structure Fire

Incident #: 2013005292#
Date of Incident: 02/03/2013
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe

Narrative:
  On February 3rd, 2013 at 12:02 am the Spokane Fire Department responded one dedicated ladder, one pumper ladder, three engines, one heavy rescue along with two Battalion Chiefs to a reported structure fire at 1023 West Fairview. Upon arrival companies reported light smoke emitting from the gable roof vents and light smoke on the second floor apartment of a converted multifamily two story home. The first arriving Chief sent companies to locate the fire in the attic along with searching the first and second floor apartment units. All residents were soon accounted for and the firefighters located the fire in the attic above the kitchen on the second floor. The smoldering fire was located utilizing thermal imaging cameras and quickly extinguished. Companies remained on scene for approximately two hours removing smoldering insulation and cleaning up the debris.  One resident from the second floor apartment will be displaced until the structural damage and wiring issues can be repaired. The Red Cross is assisting the displaced resident with lodging. The first floor residents were able to remain in the home. There were no injuries reported from the residents or firefighters on scene.

Cause:
  The attic fire appears to have been caused by faulty knob and tube wiring as reported by the Special Investigation Unit Investigator who responded to the scene.

Damage:
   
There is structural and wiring damage to the second floor apartment unit only.

# Firefighters Responding: 20

Dollar Loss: $ 10,000.00

Other Agencies Responding:
Avista, Red Cross and the Spokane Police Department.

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

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Saturday, February 2, 2013

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

Media Release

South Battalion Motel Fire

Incident #: 2013005239#
Date of Incident: 02/02/2013
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe

Narrative:
 On February 2nd 2013 at 17:03 the Spokane Fire Department responded one dedicated ladder, four engines, one heavy rescue along with two Battalion Chiefs to a report of smoke in a second floor motel room at 2703 West Sunset Boulevard which is the West Winn Motel. When companies arrived they reported nothing showing and went into the investigative mode. They soon reported smoke in a second floor motel unit coming out of the ceiling lights. Companies were assigned to the second floor to attack the fire along with the ladder company assigned to the roof to potentially ventilate the attic. Other firefighters were assigned to search the building and evacuate all the occupants. The Safety Officer from Rescue 9 while doing an investigative walk around the building reported smoke coming from the basement utility room. At this time the fire was upgraded to a working fire and an additional ladder company was dispatched.  Companies were then sent into the basement and soon reported that the source of the smoke was from a commercial dryer fire. The fire was contained to the dryer and there was no extension to the structure. Companies then focused on removing the smoke and lingering carbon monoxide from the rest of the two story motel. After approximately one hour the residents were allowed back inside the building after their rooms were cleared of the smoke and carbon monoxide. There were no injuries reported from the occupants or fire fighters.

Cause:
 Although the fire appears to have started in the natural gas fired commercial dryer the exact cause is still under investigation the Spokane Fire Department investigation Unit.

Damage:
 The commercial dryer was destroyed by the fire along with moderate smoke damage to the basement and light smoke damage to the second floor. There was also investigative damage to the ceiling in one room on the second floor.

# Firefighters Responding: 22

Dollar Loss: $ 8,000.00

Other Agencies Responding:
Avista and A.M.R. Ambulance

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

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