Extrication follows minivan collision

A technical rescue and a rollover accident with extrication were among the 272 calls that kept Spokane Valley Fire Department crews busy the week of June 13-19.

A minivan was T-boned at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Blake Road just after 2:30 p.m. Monday. The driver at fault fled but was arrested by police a few blocks away, said Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford. The minivan flipped on its top and landed in a yard.

“The chain link fence post came right through the front windshield, which really could have done some damage or killed somebody,” Clifford said. “It was quite impressive.”

Two people were extricated from the minivan and one was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, he said.

Two hikers were injured when they fell 20 feet off rocks in Mirabeau Park behind the Valley YMCA just before 8 p.m. Tuesday. A 19-year-old woman fell first and her 19-year-old boyfriend was trying to reach her when he also fell, Clifford said. “It looked like they had tried to climb up this rock area and had slipped and fallen,” he said. “Neither one of them had any safety gear on or clothing for rock climbing.”

The woman was seriously injured and the man apparently had a broken wrist, Clifford said. “She’s going to have a long road to recovery,” he said. “She was banged up pretty good.”

Firefighters responded to a report of an illegal fire early in the 900 block of North Vista Road twice on June 14. “They were told to put out the fire the first time and they did, but we ended up going back about 12 hours later,” Clifford said. The homeowners, who were illegally burning trash and yard debris, will be referred to the Spokane Clean Air Agency for a possible citation, he said.

A small grass fire was reported in the 6300 block of East 14th Avenue the evening of June 15. “Kids were seen playing in the area, but no one was around when we responded,” he said. “All that ended up burning was grass and bushes.”

A dryer fire was reported in the 17300 block of East Sixth Avenue on June 14.

Crews responded to 224 emergency medical services calls during the week and 15 car accidents.

Firefighters also responded to city of Spokane to provide fill-in staffing on June 15 while Spokane firefighters were busy responding to a three-alarm fire at Geno’s on Hamilton Street. “We put trucks into the city standing by while their units were on scene,” Clifford said.

Such coverage is common under a mutual aid agreement in place between the Spokane and Spokane Valley fire departments. Crews did respond to one call in Spokane while the Spokane crews were busy with the fire, Clifford said.