Vehicle block heater causes South Hill fire

 

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VEHICLE BLOCK HEATER CAUSES SOUTH HILL FIRE

NO ONE INJURED, DAMAGE ESTIMAGED AT $90,000

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​A fire started by a vehicle block heater in a garage significantly damaged a South Hill home. No one was injured, but damage was estimated at $90,000.

 

Spokane Fire Department firefighters were called to the home at 2704 E. 38^th Ave. just before 11 pm on Tuesday. The garage was fully involved with fire, which had extended into the main residence.

 

The residents were not able to return to the home due to the damage to a large portion of the house and the entire garage. Crews from the Spokane Valley Fire Department and Fire District 8 also responded to the call.

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Grease fire damages rendering plant

 

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GREASE FIRE DAMAGES RENDERING PLANT

DAMAGE ESTIMAGED AT $200,000

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​The Spokane Fire Department is investigating a fire that heavily damaged a rendering plant. All of the employees evacuated before firefighters arrived and no one was injured.

 

Heavy smoke and fire was coming from equipment containing large amounts of rendering oil and grease when firefighters arrived at 4423 E. Hutton about 11 pm on Friday. Eight Spokane Fire Department units and three Spokane Valley Fire Department units responded to the call and contained the damage mostly to the equipment inside the facility.

 

Crews were on scene for about 2 hours. Damage was estimated at $200,000.

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Cellphone charger ignites apartment fire

 

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CELLPHONE CHARGER IGNITES APARTMENT FIRE

NO ONE INJURED, FOUR TENANTS DISPLACED

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A ceramic resister in a cellphone charger overheated and started a fire at an apartment building on the lower South Hill. At least four tenants were displaced, but no one was injured. However, two cats perished in the fire.

 

Firefighters found a ground level unit well involved with flames, which were threatening the second and third levels of the Madison Terrace Apartments, 1107 S. Madison. Crews quickly knocked down the fire, which was reported at 10:44 am on Monday, and kept it contained to the ground floor. Smoke damage was reported in the units directly above the main floor.

 

At the same time, searches were conducted to ensure all occupants were accounted for. A total of 26 firefighters responded on this fire, which included a company from Fire District 8 and a company from the Spokane Valley Fire Department as part of a mutual aid agreement.

 

The American Red Cross was called in to assist the occupants in making arrangements for accommodations, food and clothing.

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Gas generator in basement sickens three

 

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GAS GENERATOR IN BASEMENT SICKENS THREE

TRIO HAD SEVERE EXPOSURE TO CARBON MONOXIDE

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A gas-powered generator operating in the basement of home that had lost power sickened three Shadle area adults late Wednesday and sent them to a hospital for treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

The Spokane Fire Department urges people who are relying on portable generators for power following the massive wind storm to operate them outside of structures. Generators produce deadly carbon monoxide that builds up inside homes and other indoor spaces.

 

Exposure to carbon monoxide can be fatal. Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer because it is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. It is produced by the incomplete burning of various fuels, including coal, wood, oil, kerosene, propane and natural gas. Products and equipment powered by internal combustion engines such as portable generators, cars, lawn mowers, and snow blowers all produce carbon monoxide.

In one year alone the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported more than 90 generator-related carbon monoxide poisoning deaths. The majority of these deaths were known to have occurred during power outages due to severe weather.

The signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are very similar to the flu, but without the fever. They include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. If you think you are experiencing any of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get outside to fresh air immediately. Leave the home and call your fire department to report your symptoms from a neighbor's home. You could lose consciousness and die if you stay in your home.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

 

·         Operate appliances according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Never operate a portable generator or any other gasoline engine-powered appliance in an enclosed space such as a garage

·         Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens or close dryers to heat your home
Never operate unvented fuel-burning appliances in any room where people are sleeping
Never use portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside your home or garage unless it is specifically designed for use in an enclosed space

 

Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed inside your home. Carbon monoxide alarms are designed to alarm before potentially life-threatening levels of carbon monoxide are reached. Consumers should follow the manufactures instructions on placement and operation of these detectors.

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Overheated equipment causes scare

 

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OVERHEATED EQUIPMENT CAUSES SCARE

FAST FOOD RESTAURANT EVACUATED BRIEFLY

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An overheating electrical motor that services the fountain drink dispenser at a fast food restaurant on Monroe Street caused a scare for employees and customers late Thursday, although all escaped uninjured.

 

The Spokane Fire Department responded to the report of smoke filling the McDonald’s on Monroe Street at 10:32 pm. Crews arrived to find that employees had reacted quickly to smoke pouring from the fountain drink dispenser.

 

While employees utilized a dry chemical fire extinguisher to quickly address the issue with the machinery, others did a great job evacuating the store of employees and customers, according to firefighters on scene.

Once firefighters confirmed that the electricity had been controlled and the area around the motor was safe they vented smoke and extinguishing products from the interior air. Due to quick action by employees there was little damage and the issue will be easily mitigated by clean-up efforts, according to firefighters.

 

The cause was determined to be the result of the overheating motor contacting nearby combustibles and plastic. Damage was estimated at $200.

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Fire at vacant home under investigation

 

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FIRE AT VACANT HOME UNDER INVESTIGATION

POLICE FORCE ENTRY TO ENSURE HOME UNOCCUPIED

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The cause of a fire that burned in the kitchen of an unoccupied west central home early today is under investigation.

 

Fire crews were called to the home in the 1600 block of north Wall Street at 4:06 am. Spokane police officers were already on scene when firefighters arrived and had forced entry through the front door to ensure there were no occupants inside the home.

 

Flames were showing from the boarded up windows on the south side of the home. Firefighters quickly knocked down the flames and spent another hour and a half at the home to ensure the fire had been completely extinguished.

 

Fire and smoke damage was estimated at $15,000. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by Spokane Fire Department investigators.

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Browne's Addition apartment fire displaces two

 

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BROWNE’S ADDITION APARTMENT FIRE DISPLACES TWO

SLEEPING OCCUPANTS ESCAPE UNINJURED

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An apartment fire chased two sleeping people uninjured from a Browne’s Addition apartment early this morning and heavily damaged the unit. Neighbors in the 10-unit building also safely evacuated.

 

The apartment was well involved with fire when the Spokane Fire Department arrived at 2023 W. 3rd Ave. about 3:40 am. Firefighters quickly searched the unit and protected the other nine units. Neighboring occupants safely evacuated.

 

Heavy fire and smoke damage was reported to the unit and its contents. Damage was estimated at $20,000. The Spokane Fire Department Special Investigation Unit is investigating the cause. The Red Cross is assisting the two occupants.   

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Daylight savings time ends Sunday

 

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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS SUNDAY

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When you change your clocks back to Standard Time this weekend, Spokane Fire Department asks you to also check the condition of your smoke alarms.

 

In the past, the slogan was “Change Your Clock / Change Your Battery!”  We now recognize the importance of also knowing the type of battery in the alarm and the age of the unit itself.

 

• Replace alkaline batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year or whenever they begin to chirp.
• When long-life lithium batteries chirp, it means the detector itself needs to be replaced.  Lithium batteries should last up to 10 years. All smoke alarms, whether hardwired into the electricity or simply battery-operated, must be replaced every 10 years.
• Determine the age of smoke alarms by looking for the date of manufacture on the back label of the alarm itself.
• When replacing smoke alarms, choose the PHOTOELECTRIC or dual-sensor PHOTO-ION type because they are significantly more effective at detecting smoldering fires than the more common ionization smoke alarms.

 

When you take time to turn your clock back one hour this weekend, please make time to also check on the condition of the smoke alarms in your home.  You need at least one working smoke alarm on each level of the house, one outside each sleeping area and one in each bedroom.

 

About 2,800 persons die in home fires in the U.S. each year.  Three of every five of these fatalities happened in homes that were not protected by a working smoke alarm. Remember to push the test button on your smoke alarms the first day of every month to make sure that everything is still connected with its power source.

 

For more information on smoke alarms, please call Spokane Fire Department at 509.625.7058.

 

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

No one injured by northwest apartment fire

 

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NO ONE INJURED BY NORTHWEST APARTMENT FIRE

FIRE DAMANGE CONTAINED TO GROUND-LEVEL UNIT

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Occupants of a northwest Spokane apartment building escaped a fire that damaged a ground-level unit and spread smoke throughout the rest of the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation and no injuries were reported.

 

Firefighters were called to the 700 block of west Glass Avenue just before 7 pm Wednesday. Callers reported that building residents living in units above the fire on the first floor were evacuating and that a disabled man resided in the unit that had the majority of the fire.

 

When the Spokane Fire Department arrived, companies quickly determined no occupants remained in the building and knocked the fire down within 20 minutes. Fire damage was primarily confined to one of the apartment units; however, there was smoke damage throughout the building.  

 

The Red Cross arranged for temporary housing for all of the occupants and the building remains on fire watch this morning.  It is anticipate that the majority of the building's occupants will be able to return by this afternoon.  

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org

      

 

Hillyard fire claimms two cats

 

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HILLYARD FIRE CLAIMS TWO CATS

FAMILY SAFELY ESCAPES APARTMENT FIRE

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A family escaped injury this morning, but lost two cats in a fire that burned their Hillyard apartment.

 

A woman returned home to find her apartment rapidly filling with smoke about 11:30 am. A column of smoke could be seen as firefighters left Station 15 on east Wellesley. The fire originated in one unit of a three-unit complex and was beginning to extend into the attic space when firefighters arrived.

 

Firefighters searched each of the apartments to confirm that all residents made it out safely and worked for two hours to ensure the fire did not spread. The interior of the apartment where the fire originated suffered heavy smoke and fire damage that made it unsafe to occupy.  Total damage was estimated to be $25,000.

 

Investigators are working at the scene to determine a cause. The Red Cross responded to assist the two displaced occupants with lodging and personal needs.

 

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Brian Coddington | City of Spokane | Director of Communications and Marketing

509.625.6740 | fax 509.625.6563 |bcoddington@spokanecity.org| spokanecity.org