Three treated for smoke inhalation
AC Brian Schaeffer #509-625-7002
Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 12:41 p.m.
Just before 10 a.m., crews from the Spokane Fire Department responded to a report of smoke coming from the roof of North Central High School located at 1600 N. Howard St. Firefighters arrived within minutes and were able to quickly contain the fire.
The fire started on the west side of the school in a portion of the building that is under construction. Due to the quick attack by crews the fire was confined to a small area of the structure.
Three workers were treated on the scene by fire department emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for smoke inhalation. One of those workers was subsequently transported to a local hospital and the other two were taken by private vehicle. There were no reported injuries to students, school staff or firefighters.
“The students and staff of North Central High School did an excellent job of calmly evacuating and meeting at their respective pre-planned locations,” advised Spokane Fire Chief Williams. “This allowed for everyone to evacuate safely and our crews to quickly and effectively manage the incident.”
The Spokane Fire Departments Special Investigation Unit determined the cause of the fire to be accidental, a result of a torch being used and igniting nearby insulation.
The Spokane Fire Department would like to remind everyone that school fire drills and school evacuation plans can be a great model for residents to use at their own homes. It is important for everyone to have a home evacuation plan that includes at least two routes of escape in the event of a fire. Properly functioning smoke detectors and a well-rehearsed escape plan are the keys to preventing tragedy in structure fires.
For information about fire safety, contact the Spokane 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.
