Early Morning Commercial Fire

Tour Commander, 509.625.7100

Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 2:36 p.m.

At approximately 1:17 am this morning, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) was dispatched to the 2500 Block of North Division Street to a commercial structure fire. 911 callers reported a possible vehicle fire next to a retail tire shop. Fire companies arrived just minutes after

dispatch and found a massive pile of tires and a passenger van on fire next to a one-story commercial building. Based on the rapid-fire growth, it was believed that the fire had extended into the building.

After the arrival of several fire companies, the giant pile of tires and the well-involved passenger vehicle was quickly contained and extinguished. Firefighters gained access to the structure and conducted a search for victims and ensured that the efforts to prevent the fire from extending into the building were successful.

The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes of companies arriving on the scene. However, over 24 firefighters were required to remove smoldering and burning tires from the pile and ensure extinguishment. Non-PFAS firefighting foam was used to extinguish and overhaul the remaining tires completely.?

There was moderate damage to a late model mini-van, and loss of an estimated 150 used tires, but firefighters were able to save retail structure and contents, estimated at over $500,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. There were no injuries to either firefighters or civilians as a result of the incident.