AC Brian Schaeffer #509-625-7002
Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 8:43 a.m.
At 1:24 a.m., crews from the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 2300 block of E. Everett Ave. in Spokane’s Hillyard neighborhood. Firefighters arrived within minutes to find a second floor room and staircase fire in a single family home. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire and prevented it from spreading to the remainder of the house.
Prior to SFD’s arrival, the two occupants of the residence jumped from the second floor to flee from the advancing fire. One of the occupants sustained non-life threatening injuries, was treated on the scene by fire department emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and was subsequently transported to a local hospital. Four dogs perished in the fire. Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) responded to the scene to assist with the recovery of the dogs.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit.
The Spokane Fire Department would like to remind everyone of the importance of having 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. Were it not for the ability of the occupants to escape from a second floor window, this early morning fire could have had a tragic result.
