Attic fire displaces occupants and their pets

 

 

Attic fire displaces occupants and their pets

 

Just before 8 a.m., the Spokane Fire Department responded to the 1100 block of E. Columbia Ave. on a report of a residential structure fire.

 

The occupants of the home were able to evacuate and call 9-11 after discovering smoke coming from the attic and filling the house. One of the occupants suffered from smoke inhalation and was later transported to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation.

 

The American Red Cross responded to the scene to assist three adults and their pets who were displaced after the fire.

 

The fire caused significant damage to the attic and moderate damage to the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's Special Investigation Unit.

 

The Spokane Fire Department would like to remind the community of the importance of having properly installed and maintained smoke alarms. Smoke alarms provide an early warning signal which could allow everyone in the home to safely evacuation.

 

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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

 

Check your smoke alarms when you change the clocks

 

Check your smoke alarms when you change the clocks

 

With the upcoming time change, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) says it’s a great time to check your smoke alarms while changing your clocks.

 

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 is 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

 

Fatal house fire in Perry District

 

Fatal house fire in Perry District
Cause of fire under investigation

 

An adult female and her dog are deceased after a house fire in the Perry District neighborhood this morning.

 

Just before 7 a.m., the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) was called to the 700 block of S. Ivory St. for a reported structure fire with an occupant inside the residence, but not answering the door.

 

First arriving units advised of heavy smoke showing from the attic and eave line of the house. Crews made a rapid entry to search the home and conducted a coordinated attack of the fire. During the search, an adult female was found deceased along with a dog. The initial investigation shows the fire had been burning for quite some time before it was reported.

 

Unfortunately, there were no working smoking alarms in the residence. SFD wants to remind the community of the importance of having properly installed and maintained smoke alarms as they provide an early warning signal which could allow everyone to safely escape. Homes should have at least one alarm on every level of the home and an alarm outside every sleeping area and inside every bedroom.

 

The incident caused several street closures in the area while firefighters worked to contain the fire and conduct an investigation.

 

The home received significant fire damage, burning through the main floor and into the basement. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit.

 

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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