No injuries were reported
Michele Anderson, Public Safety Communications Manager
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 12:51 p.m.
Fire investigators with the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit say the cause of yesterday’s fire at Tormino’s Sash and Glass St. is undetermined.
Just before noon on Wednesday, the Spokane Fire Department responded to the 100 block of N. Helena St. on a report of a structure fire involving a commercial building. Responding crews reported a large column of black smoke many blocks away and immediately upgraded it to a working structure fire, ensuring additional were dispatched to the incident. Upon arrival, crews reported heavy fire conditions through the roof with pressurized black smoke emitting from the buildings on all sides.
The building’s owner was on scene and advised no one was in the building.
Heavy fire conditions along with a partial roof collapse prevented firefighters from attempting an interior attack.
Based on observations and fire conditions, firefighters upgraded the incident to a second alarm in order for additional resources to respond. Crews defensively attacked the fire containing it to the one building and limiting it from escaping to adjacent structures. The aggressive nature of the fire combined with fire venting through the arch shaped roof made it extremely difficult for firefighters to get to the seat of the fire.
Helena St. and Riverside Ave. remained closed for more than four hours as fire crews battled the blaze.
