Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO, jderuyter@spokanecity.org
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 3:33 p.m.
Spokane, WA, December 3, 2024— At 2:54 p.m., Engine 7 was dispatched to the Ridpath Club Apartments at 515 West Sprague Avenue in response to reports of flooding on the fifth floor of the annex building. Upon arrival, firefighters accessed the fifth floor and discovered a fire with an activated sprinkler system. This prompted an upgrade to a High-Rise Fire response at 3:01 p.m.
Firefighters located the fire within an apartment unit on the fifth floor and confirmed that the automatic suppression system had successfully extinguished it. However, significant water damage was spreading to the floors below.
Additional crews reported seeing occupants on the fourth floor leaning out of windows, unable to evacuate due to smoke and water. Truck 14 deployed its aerial device to assist one victim but determined that conditions inside had improved enough to guide all occupants out through the stairwells safely.
The fire remains under investigation, and damage estimates are not yet available. The fire was contained to its point of origin thanks to the sprinkler system, but water damage is extensive across multiple floors. Nine displaced residents are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross. No injuries were reported.
