Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO, jderuyter@spokanecity.org
Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 8:48 a.m.
At approximately 00:43 AM on November 16, 2023, the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) was dispatched to a house on fire in the 1200 Block of East Olympic Avenue. The residence's occupants (four individuals and multiple dogs and cats) were alerted to the fire by a functioning smoke alarm. As they awoke, they observed smoke growing and moving quickly throughout the home's interior.
The first company arrived within four minutes and found pressurized, heavy smoke showing from the eaves of the one-and-one-half-story house. A resident climbed onto the roof, trying to extinguish the fire through a vent pipe using a garden hose. Additionally, an adult male was found in the yard who had reportedly fallen while exiting the house and was injured. Firefighters went to work immediately evaluating victims and implementing a coordinated attack strategy that resulted in searching 100% of the structure and the fire was extinguished in less than 10 minutes after the SFD's arrival.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of functional smoke alarms in residences and the risks of combatting fires without professional training. The Spokane Fire Department appreciates the community's support and reminds everyone to prioritize the "Close Before You Doze" mindset for bedroom doors and maintaining working smoke alarms inside and outside of each bedroom.
