Celebration brings response from fire department

There’s nothing wrong with a little celebration, but it’s probably a good idea not to have one good enough to invite a few trucks from the local fire department.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department was called to a fire in a vacant lot in the 4400 block of North Ashton Road just before 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 22. The man who recently bought the land invited a few friends over to celebrate his purchase and lit a bonfire.

“He was burning branches and an old 6-foot bookcase,” said department spokeswoman Melanie Rose. “They were having fun celebrating.”

Recreational fires are legal now that the burn ban has been lifted, but they still must be burned in a fire pit using dry firewood with a water supply standing by, Rose said. The land owner had none of those and agreed to stop burning, she said.

Other calls from Oct. 17-23

Oct. 18: A woman had to be extricated from her vehicle after a crash on Interstate 90 near the Argonne exit. Her injuries were not life-threatening.

Oct. 19: A woman in a wheelchair was struck in a crosswalk in the 9700 block of East Sprague Avenue. She was not seriously injured in the low-speed crash.

Oct. 21: A reported cooking fire in the 1600 block of South Clinton Road turned out to be nothing more than burnt food.

Oct. 23: An arson fire caused significant damage to a boarded-up, vacant home in the 1200 block of North Bannen Road. The home was fully aflame when crews arrived, but they were able to keep the fire from spreading to nearby homes and a tree.

A utility trailer with a partial load of paint and solvent caught fire along Interstate 90 near Stateline. The driver received minor burns to his hands while unhooking the trailer from his truck but refused treatment.

A motorcyclist received minor injuries when he laid his bike down to avoid a car that pulled in front of him on Trent Avenue at McDonald Road. He was wearing a helmet.

By the numbers: Crews responded to 268 calls from Oct. 17-23, including 208 calls for emergency medical services. Other responses included 20 car crashes, an unattended child left in a vehicle and a reported fire that turned out to be light reflecting off a disco ball hung behind a tarp.