For Immediate Release:

March 19^th, 2020

Contact:

Scott Niebuhr

Firefighter/Public Information Officer

Spokane Valley Fire Department

509-319-6078

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South Valley Home Saved by Quick Fire Attack

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Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) firefighters responded at 2:42 AM this morning for a report of a house fire in the 13000 block of E 29^th Ave. Homeowners called 911 reporting a large fire in their backyard getting close to their home.

Engine 9 arrived to heavy fire coming from the backyard of a residential home, and quickly began pulling a hoseline around the side of the home for fire attack. Next arriving firefighters from Engine 7 pumped water from their tank into Engine 9, then assisted with fire attack and overhauling the fire area with hand tools. Firefighters had the fire knocked down in under 10 minutes from arriving on scene. Fire damage was primarily to a “grill shack”, an outdoor patio, and the surrounding trees. Engine 84 personnel also performed a search inside the home for any individuals who needed help evacuating, with Ladder 8 firefighters also assisting in overhaul. There were no reported injuries to the 3 occupants of the home, their 2 animals, or any firefighters. No fire damaged the home and the family will still be able to occupy it.

Homeowners were alerted thanks to their son who heard a loud noise from the backyard and woke up his parents. The family had attempted to use a barbeque in the area of the fire origin earlier in the evening, but the barbeque wouldn’t start. The fire cause is currently under investigation. A total of 5 fire suppression vehicles and 3 command vehicles responded, including one fire engine from Spokane County Fire District #8.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to remind residents to always have their barbeque at least 10 feet away from their home. The barbeque near the origin of the fire had recently been moved away from directly next to the home’s attached garage, and would have resulted in a large amount of damage to the home if it ignited.

About SVFD
Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Millwood and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Spokane County with a combined population of 125,000 across 75 square miles. SVFD firefighter crews which include paramedics and EMT’s, responded to more than 17,487 emergency calls in 2018.

Established in 1940, SVFD is an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International; and has a class 2 WSRB rating as given by the Washington Survey and Ratings Bureau (WSRB).  SVFD is one of four accredited departments in the state and the only accredited department with distinction as a WSRB class 2.   

For more information about Spokane Valley Fire Department, visit www.spokanevalleyfire.com.

Follow us @spokanevalleyfire on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

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