For Immediate Release:

July 30, 2019

Contact:

Shawn Pichette

Public Information Officer

Spokane Valley Fire

509.638.3058

pichettes@spokanevalleyfire.com

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VEHICLE SUBMERGED IN SPOKANE RIVER

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Spokane Valley, Wash. – Spokane Fire Department and the Spokane Valley Fire Department responded at 2:46 AM July 30, 2019 to a reported vehicle in the Spokane River in the area of State Line Idaho.  A unit from the Spokane County Sheriff’s office was close by and arrived on scene first, and confirmed there was a vehicle submerged in the water.

Spokane Valley Engine 4 (Otis Orchards) arrived on scene shortly after the Sheriff’s office and immediately began an initial search of the south river bank from the shore line that did not locate any civilians.  Additional apparatus from Spokane Valley Fire began arriving on scene containing members of our Special Operations Team (swift water rescue capable).

Members from the Special Operations Team entered the water on inflatable kayaks and performed an initial search of the vehicle from the water’s surface and determined it was unoccupied.  They then focused their search efforts down river from the incident for some distance to confirm there were no occupants from the vehicle.  Units from the Spokane Fire Department began arriving on scene, but were held in staging until the incident was stabilized.

Spokane County Sheriff’s offices advises the vehicle will be retrieved out of the river sometime this morning.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department would like to remind all of our citizens to be cautious around bodies of water, and that properly fitted life jackets save lives!

About SVFD
Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the City of Spokane Valley, City of Liberty Lake, City of Millwood, and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Spokane County with a combined population of 125,000 across 75 square miles. SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 17,280 emergency calls in 2017. Established in 1940, SVFD is an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, one of only a handful in Washington State.