Two reports of cars with punctured gasoline tanks
There’s a new way to steal gasoline and Spokane Valley Fire Department firefighters are left to clean up the mess.
There have been two instances lately where someone has crawled under cars and used a drill to make a small hole in the gas tank to drain off the fuel, said Fire Marshal Kevin Miller. “It’s pretty dangerous,” Miller said. “You can catch yourself on fire doing something stupid like that.”
The first case was reported on Nov. 6. The car’s owner was refilling his gas tank at the 7-11 on North Argonne Road when the method of gas theft was discovered. “While they were putting gas in, there was gas coming out,” Miller said.
The second report came in three days later from a resident in the 3300 block of North Dick, who found fuel all over the ground underneath his car. In both cases firefighters put down absorbent to clean up the spilled fuel, Miller said.
It’s common for crews to be called to a stovetop fire, but on Nov. 5 they were called to a stovetop explosion in the 13000 block of Tall Tree Road. “The glass top on the stove kind of blew up,” said Miller. “The lady was boiling water and it overflowed and reacted with the glass. It scared the lady pretty good.”
An abandoned car that hit a pole was found near Bolo’s Bar at 116 S. Best Road at 8 a.m. on Nov. 8. “The tires were worn down because he kept trying to drive through the post,” Miller said. “It kind of beat the car up pretty good. He finally gave up and left it.”
Other calls from Nov. 3-16
NOV. 4: The department assisted Spokane county Fire District 9 with a garage fire in the 8500 block of North Bull Pine Lane.
Nov. 7: An RV battery caught fire in the 19800 block of East Lincoln. The owner was able to put it out.
Nov. 8: A resident accidentally hit the natural gas meter attached to his home in the 8600 block of East Boone Avenue. Firefighters assisted crews from Avista Utilities as they worked to turn off the gas and make repairs.
Nov. 10: Faulty electrical wiring on a hot water heater created a lot of smoke inside a home in the 100 block of South Tschirley Road. Smoke was also reported at East Farms Elementary at 4:45 p.m. Paper had been left inside a new kiln, which caught fire when the kiln was started.
Nov. 13: Firefighters responded to a bedroom fire in a duplex in the 12700 block of East Broadway Avenue. Damage is estimated at $30,000.
Nov. 14: A chimney fire was reported in the 3300 block of South Melissa. Damage was minimal.
Nov. 15: A mobile home was consumed by a fire that had started on an attached deck in the 5800 block of East Fourth. The home is a total loss.
Nov. 16: A crack in an old masonry chimney led to a fire above the mantle in a home in the 23700 block of East Garland. Damage is estimated at $5,000.
By the numbers: The department responded to 548 calls from Nov. 3-16, including 402 for emergency medical services. The responses also included nine illegal yard waste fires, 29 car accidents and a possible apartment fire that turned out to be fogged up windows caused by an unhooked dryer vent hose.