Brian Schaeffer, Assistant Chief, 509.625.7002
Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 5:28 a.m.
Narrative: On Thursday August 29, 2013 at 5:28 AM, 6 Companies of Spokane Firefighters, 4 Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, and 1-Senior Ladder, under the direction of Battalion Chiefs Green and Fielder responded to a reported residential fire at 1422 West 14th Avenue.
Two companies arrived simultaneously within 5 minutes 34 seconds from Station 4 and reported a two-story single family home with heavy smoke showing from the second floor of the home. The initial company upgraded the fire to a “working” incident and added additional resources to the incident to assist in the firefighting efforts. The complete effective response force was met (16 firefighters) within 7 minutes 56 seconds (the performance measure goal is 11 minutes 90% of the time).
The first arriving Ladder Company immediately fought up the stairs to the second floor to search for victims, while other companies confined the fire to the area of origin. Fortunately, it was determined that the single occupant of the residence was safe and accounted for and found near a neighbor's house. With the assistance of additional arriving companies, it took the firefighters just 20 minutes to stretch multiple hoselines to the second floor and knock down the fire and control the incident. Firefighters were able to contain the damage to one bedroom on the second floor, which also prevented it from spreading to the ceiling and roof areas. No civilians or firefighters were injured as a result of the incident.
Cause: The preliminary information appears to indicate that the cause was accidental and related to smoking materials.
Damage: The main area of damage was successfully isolated to a second floor bedroom with smoke damage throughout the second floor.
# Firefighters Responding: 24
Dollar Loss: $20,000
Other Agencies Responding: Spokane Police Department, Red Cross
