Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO, jderuyter@spokanecity.org
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 9:37 a.m.
Yesterday at 2:28 p.m., your Spokane Fire Department received a call about a house fire at 206 West Buckeye Ave. Engine 2 and Tower Ladder 2 were the first to arrive, finding heavy flames on the back porch of the house, which had also spread inside. Fortunately, the occupant heard the smoke detector, evacuated, and informed us that their cat was still inside. Engine 2 tackled the exterior fire, quickly bringing it under control, while Tower Ladder 2 entered the house to search for the missing cat and assess the conditions inside. They successfully located the cat, which was unharmed, and handed it over to a neighbor.
Engine 3 arrived, secured a water supply, and deployed additional hoses for interior firefighting operations. Quint 13 was ordered to cut ventilation holes in the roof as the fire had extended into the attic. Once the attic was ventilated, firefighters were able to extinguish the remaining fire.
A fire investigator determined that improperly discarded smoking materials caused the fire. The estimated damage to the structure is $200,000, with a loss of $85,000 for contents and $115,000 worth of property saved. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries among the public or firefighters. The Red Cross was contacted to assist in relocating two adults, four children, two dogs, and a cat with housing arrangements.
Spokane Fire would like to commend the quick actions of the occupant's neighbors, who smelled smoke and first reported the fire and also ensured the occupant was alerted to the fire. Early detection and response by the Spokane Fire Department are crucial in minimizing damage and ensuring public safety. We also want to remind citizens to safely discard smoking materials in a sturdy metal container with a lid partially filled with sand or water and to empty it regularly. If such a container isn't available, make sure to fully extinguish cigarette butts and ashes with water before disposing of them in the trash.
