Brian Schaeffer, Assistant Chief, 509.625.7002
Monday, January 27, 2014 at 7:47 a.m.
Incident #: 2014004716
Date of Incident: 01/27/2014
Issuing Officer: Joel Fielder/Battalion Chief
Narrative: On January 27, 2014, at approximately 10 p.m., Spokane Fire crews were dispatched to the Center Court Apartments at 924 East Cozza Drive. Fire dispatch reported that they had received several 911 calls on this fire, reporting an explosion and several apartments heavily involved with fire. Engine 18 responding from Lincoln and Division could see heavy smoke and fire from several blocks away and upgrade the fire to a working fire and then to a 2nd Alarm fire due to the size of the structure and the significant volume of fire. E-18's size-up identified heavy fire coming from one apartment on the second floor with fire extending to the 3rd floor apartment and fire in the attic of the 3- story, block long structure. E-18 initiated fire attack into the 2nd floor apartment while aggressive vertical ventilation operations from the first arriving ladder company, L-2, and additional fire attack from E-15 on the third floor confined the fire to the two apartments on the east side of the building.
All other fire crews arriving on scene were assigned tasks of search and rescue, salvage and overhaul and water supply. The commercial response, along with the 2nd Alarm upgrade, consisted of 5 engines, 3 ladders and 3 Response Chiefs. One civilian was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation and there were no reported injuries to any firefighters. The fire was contained within 1 hour and fire crews remained on scene throughout the night to complete overhaul.
The Spokane Chapter of the American Red Cross was on scene and assisting those individuals that had been displaced by the fire.
Cause: The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department's, Special Investigation Unit.
Damage: Fire damage was confined to the 2nd and 3rd floor apartments with heavy fire damage to the attic. The lower apartment on the first floor sustained water and smoke damage.
# Firefighters Responding: 30
Dollar Loss: $100,000
Other Agencies Responding: Avista, Red Cross and Spokane Police Department
