Firefighters Injured Battling Garage Blaze

Two Spokane firefighters suffered blistered hands Friday while fighting a fire that destroyed one garage and caused minor damage to a neighboring home and garage.

Paramedics at the scene treated Victor Hernandez and Bob Ellis for first- and second-degree burns, said Joe Stapleton, a Spokane Fire Department battalion chief.

The flames destroyed a garage at S1206 F Street. The home’s owner was working in the garage when a rag soaked in a solvent came into contact with a portable kerosene heater at 2:25 p.m., according to Stapleton.

After the heater ignited the rag, the owner escaped from the garage without injury and called for help, Stapleton said.

The fire’s heat was so intense that neighboring structures caught fire and the firefighters were burned, despite wearing leather gloves and protective clothing.

The injured firefighters were released from duty for the rest of their shifts.