Teen’s Wakeup Averts Disaster

Sat., March 23, 1996

Brian Coddington Staff Writer

Linda Hermann credits her 15-year-old daughter with saving four lives. If Shannon Hermann hadn’t been awakened by something early Wednesday morning, the Spokane Valley family might not have survived the fire that roared through their house.

“She either smelled it, heard it or the angels woke her up,” said Paul Chase, Valley Fire marshal. “It was a close call.”

Shannon Hermann was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom of the family’s home at 423 N. Argonne when she awoke and discovered the fire about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. She ran downstairs and woke her mother, father and 4-year-old brother.

“Luckily (Shannon) woke up or maybe we all wouldn’t have been here,” Linda Hermann said.

Firefighters battled the blaze for more than three hours, but managed to limit fire damage to the upstairs bedroom and the home’s attic.

Shannon Hermann’s bedroom and all of her belongings were destroyed in the fire. The clothes can be replaced, but an heirloom vase lost in the fire cannot, the girl’s mother said. Most of the family’s furniture and other possessions on the main floor were saved because firefighters laid tarps over them to protect against smoke and water damage.

The fire started in the attic of the brick house. Chase blamed inadequate space between the rafters and the wood stove chimney. The fire had been smoldering for quite a while before it was discovered.

Detection of the fire was delayed because the house did not have enough working smoke detectors, Chase said. There was no smoke detector on the second floor and one of the two main-floor smoke detectors was missing a battery.

The owner of the rental home is responsible for installing an adequate number of smoke detectors, Chase said. It is the tenant’s responsibility to change the batteries.

Hermann rents the house from Dennis Raugust. He said he thought because the attic room did not have a closet, it was not considered a bedroom and, therefore, did not require a smoke detector.

The Hermanns, who did not have renter’s insurance, are staying with relatives until they find a new home in the Valley. They have been overwhelmed by the show of support from friends, family and strangers, Linda Hermann said.

“A lot of people came out of the woodwork to help us.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.