Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO, jderuyter@spokanecity.org
Monday, November 13, 2023 at 12:45 p.m.
A rapid and coordinated response by the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) prevented a potentially devastating house fire in the 500 block of East Bridgeport Avenue. The incident, involving a fire in a one-and-one-half-story residence, was reported in the early hours of Sunday morning, November 11, 2023, at 6:19 AM.
The first of six fire companies arrived within four minutes and reported moderate smoke emanating from the rear of the residence. Firefighters immediately began a search operation and initiated an aggressive attack on the fire. Concurrently, an adult male occupant was identified as suffering severe smoke inhalation and was treated by SFD Paramedics and transported by AMR to the hospital.
Fortunately, all occupants were evacuated without harm, including two adults, four dogs, and two cats. The fire was extinguished in under five minutes, with damages confined to the main floor's back room. The cause was identified as combustible materials placed too close to a space heater. The incident resulted in moderate fire damage localized to the back room and smoke damage throughout the house. The property saved is an estimated $350,000, with a loss due to the fire of $25,000.
The quick response and professionalism of the SFD averted a more significant tragedy, illustrating again the effectiveness and readiness of our people and the system of protection we have in Spokane.
In light of this incident and the impending cold season, we cannot emphasize the importance of fire safety enough-particularly the use of space heaters. Residents are advised to keep space heaters at least three feet away from combustible materials, ensuring a safe distance from children and pets. Portable space heaters should be turned off when unattended, placed on a solid, flat surface, and plugged directly into wall outlets – avoiding using extension cords or power strips to mitigate fire hazards.
