Brian Schaeffer, Assistant Chief, 509.625.7002
Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 10:05 p.m.
Incident #: 2013053773#
Issuing Officer: Battalion Chief Bill Donahoe
Narrative: On Sunday November 17, 2013 at 5:05 PM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 1 Senior Ladder, 3 Engines and 1 Heavy Rescue under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Donahoe and Moline responded to a reported structure fire in Northeast Spokane. Dispatch advised the fire had been reported on the 3rd floor of an Apartment building and the Responding Chief at this time modified the response adding another Senior Ladder Company. Engine 15 from Wellesley and Crestline arrived within 6 minutes from the time of dispatch and reported a 3 story home with heavy black smoke showing out of a 3rd floor window with potential involvement to the roof voids. The incident was upgraded at this time to a working fire adding the last dedicated Ladder in the city to the incident along with an Ambulance and the on duty Fire investigator. Companies were assigned to confine and extinguish the fire, vertically ventilate the roof and complete a search for potential occupants unaccounted for. Due to the aggressive interior fire attack along with vertically opening the roof by the Firefighters on scene the fire was confined to the 3rd floor and roof voids and a knockdown was declared within 30 minutes.
A complete search was conducted of the entire building with all of the 16 occupants being accounted for on the street. Unfortunately one cat did not make it out of the fire room and perished at the scene. Eight adult women and eight adult males at this time are staying at a local hotel provided by the Red Cross. The building has been determined uninhabitable by the Spokane Fire Department until fire and smoke damage along with electrical concerns and egress issues can be addressed by the building owner. Two occupants were treated for smoke inhalation on the scene but refused transport to a medical facility.
Cause: The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time by the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit.
Damage: Extensive fire and smoke damage to the 3rd floor including a complete loss of the involved occupant’s belongings. The basement, first and second floors did not sustain damage from the fire.
# Firefighters Responding: 26
Dollar Loss: $ 75,000.00
Other Agencies Responding: A.M.R. Ambulance, Avista, Red Cross, S.T.A. Bus and Spokanimal.
