Fire destroys historic church

Michele Anderson, Public Safety Communications Manager

Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 9:48 a.m.

Just after 8:30 p.m. last evening, the Spokane Fire Department responded to the area of Adams St. and Broadway Ave. on a report of a bush fire. Upon arrival, fire crews reported the former Broadway Baptist Church was involved and had significant fire extending through the roof of the building.

Firefighters quickly upgraded the fire to a second alarm in order to receive additional resources to help battle the blaze, including assistance from Spokane Fire District 9 and the Spokane Valley Fire Department.

Crews defensively attacked the fire in order to contain it to the one building and limit it from escaping to adjacent structures. During the attack, multiple collapses occurred at the center of the structure. Located across the street from the church are several wood framed apartment buildings that are under construction which were a primary concern for firefighters.

“It is extremely unfortunate that our city has lost a building of such historic significance,” says Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer. “Firefighters did an exceptional job of suppressing the fire and keeping it from spreading to the surrounding neighborhood and the nearby construction sites. We are very thankful nobody was injured.”

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit.