Cause of fatal residential fire under investigation

Cause of fatal residential fire under investigation

 

This morning at approximately 3:45 a.m., the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) responded to a residential structure fire in the 1900 block of W. Fairview Ave. One of the occupants of the home indicated there was another person unaccounted for within the house.

 

During the interior search, firefighters were successful in locating the remaining occupant within minutes. Unfortunately, medical efforts to revive the patient on scene were unsuccessful. The other occupant of the home was treated and transported to a local hospital for further medical care. The patient’s status is unknown at this time.

 

First arriving crews indicated heavy fire involvement from the single-story family residence. Firefighters made an aggressive fire attack coupled with an interior search and were able to bring the fire under control within 20 minutes of their arrival. Damage was limited to the building of origin with no other damage reported.

 

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the SFD Special Investigations Unit and Spokane Police Department. Any information about this fire should be forwarded to the SFD Special Investigations Unit at (509) 625-7000.

 

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Michele Anderson | Public Safety Communications Manager
Spokane Police Department | Spokane Fire Department

cell 509.742.0063 | office 509.622.5868 | mlanderson@spokanecity.org

 

great media opportunity

Media partners:

 

Good morning! I thought you would be interested in a great visual story for today. SFD fire crews are at 32^nd Ave. and Grand Blvd. until 5 p.m. conducting training operations. They will be training on roof ventilation, rescue tactics, etc. at three houses that were donated by Washington Trust. We hope to see you there!

 

Thanks,

Michele

 

Michele Anderson | Public Safety Communications Manager
Spokane Police Department | Spokane Fire Department

cell 509.742.0063 | office 509.622.5868 | mlanderson@spokanecity.org

 

Spokane Fire Department: Don’t forget to check your smoke alarms!

Spokane Fire Department: Don't forget to check your smoke alarms!

 

With the upcoming time change, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) says it's a good, easy reminder when changing clocks to check your smoke alarms and change batteries.

 

In a fire, working smoke alarms in a home can mean the difference between life and death. "Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained provide an early warning signal which could allow everyone in the home to safely escape," advises SFD Fire Marshal Mike Miller. "When we spring forward one hour, it is a good time to also check the age and condition of your smoke alarms."

 

Residents should use batteries recommended by the manufacturer and make sure they are firmly connected to the smoke alarm contacts. Remember if a smoke alarm starts making "chirping" noise, it's a signal battery levels are low and need to be replaced. Dusting smoke detector surfaces and vacuuming the air vents regularly will keep dust and spider webs from fouling detection elements or causing false alarms. All smoke alarms should be tested monthly and new batteries should be installed at least once a year.

 

Checklist for your smoke alarm:

• Have at least one alarm on every level of your home.
• Have an alarm outside every sleeping area and inside every bedroom.
• Check the back label on each alarm to know the date of manufacture. Make sure no alarm in your home is more than 10 years old.
• Look for "ionization" or "photoelectric" or "photo-ion" on the back label of each alarm. Make sure you know the type of alarm you have!
• Have at least one photoelectric alarm on each level of the home.
• Check if your alarms have "hush buttons" so you don't ever have to remove a battery to silence a nuisance alarm.
• Check if your alarms have lithium batteries so you don't have to replace the 9-volt batteries every year. Lithium batteries may last the life of the smoke alarm.
• Test all of your alarms on the first day of every month to make sure they are still working!

 

Residents wanting more information on smoke alarms or fire safety can contact the SFD's Fire Prevention Bureau at 509-625-7058. A variety of community education resources are also available to help meet the needs of both children and adults. Fire safety presentations can be arranged for neighborhood, business, civic, or education groups.

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Michele Anderson | Public Safety Communications Manager
Spokane Police Department | Spokane Fire Department

cell 509.742.0063 | office 509.622.5868 | mlanderson@spokanecity.org