Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO, jderuyter@spokanecity.org
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 3:17 p.m.
April 7, 2026- At 4:38 p.m. yesterday, firefighters responded to 5324 North Lacey St. after receiving reports of a fire on a home's front porch. Truck 2 from the Bemiss neighborhood arrived within four minutes and found the porch fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading into the living quarters.
Firefighters quickly searched the interior and extinguished the blaze. No injuries were reported. The building, a converted duplex, sustained heavy smoke damage and some fire damage throughout both living quarters. The Red Cross was contacted to assist six displaced adults. Investigators determined the fire started on the front porch, caused by discarded cigarettes in potting soil in a container.
At 6:40 a.m. today, firefighters were dispatched to a home just east of Jack & Dan’s Bar & Grill following reports of a house fire. Engine and Truck 2 from the Bemiss neighborhood arrived within four minutes and encountered heavy fire at the rear of 918 East Sharp Ave, which was spreading to the neighboring home to the east. A second-alarm assignment was immediately requested.
Firefighters quickly began extinguishing the exterior flames while additional crews entered the home to search for occupants. As firefighters entered through the front door, the last occupant escaped through a first-floor window, forced out by heavy smoke inside.?
It took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control. The originating home sustained heavy damage, while the neighboring home suffered exterior damage. No injuries were reported. The Red Cross was contacted to assist five displaced adults. Investigators determined the fire started on the back porch, though the cause remains under investigation.
