Tour Commander, 509.625.7100
Monday, December 21, 2020 at 3:18 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19, 7:36 a.m., 911 received a call reporting black smoke coming from a building located in the 2400 Block of East Desmet. The caller was unsure of the exact address; however, they indicated clearly that a large amount of billowing smoke was visible, and screams for help were heard.
A first alarm was dispatched to the area, and the first company arrived within four minutes. Firefighters found a large exterior fire that had engulfed the majority of one side of a two-unit duplex. As firefighters began to fight the blaze, the fire was in the process of entering the structure. Additionally, radiant heat was exposing the nearby duplex and beginning to melt siding on the residence.
It took approximately 22 firefighters one hour to fully contain the blaze and thoroughly eliminate fire spread potential. The nature of the fire is incendiary, and the cause is an adult male using fireworks. The male has been arrested with an initial criminal charge of Reckless Burning. A family of six occupants (two adults and four children) is displaced and assisted by the Greater Inland Northwest Red Cross. There were neither injuries to civilians nor firefighters as a result of this incident.
