Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO, jderuyter@spokanecity.org
Friday, May 23, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
At 12:48 p.m. yesterday, firefighters were dispatched to the Sky View Apartments at 1304 West 5th Avenue following reports of black smoke from a window. Additional 911 calls soon indicated that the fire was in a unit undergoing renovation on the main floor. Several upper-floor residents also reported being unable to evacuate due to thick smoke filling the common hallway.
Engine 1, Truck 1, and Truck 4 arrived on the scene within four minutes and confirmed visible black smoke from the apartment window. Crews quickly gained access to the unit and successfully extinguished the fire. However, two occupants needed assistance to escape due to heavy smoke and a compromised location. Firefighters utilized supplied air-breathing masks to escort them to safety.
Once outside, the two individuals were evaluated by AMR paramedics and found to be in stable condition with no need for medical treatment.
A subsequent investigation determined the fire was accidental, caused when a stovetop was turned on with combustible materials placed on top. Fire damage was confined to the area of origin, although smoke affected multiple hallway walls. Fortunately, no residents were displaced by the incident.
We want to take this opportunity to remind residents that closing doors during a fire is one of the most effective ways to slow fire growth and protect occupants during evacuation, especially in multi-family buildings with shared hallways. In this case, although interior escape routes were compromised by smoke, the rapid response and fire suppression efforts prevented the flames from extending into the hallways, averting a potentially much more dangerous situation.
