Engine fire doused with milk

Thu., Oct. 27, 2005

By Jody Lawrence-Turner jodyl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5593

Gallon milk jugs played a part in two Spokane Valley fires within a week.

Firefighters were called about 4:30 p.m. Monday to respond to a truck engine fire at Progress and Forker roads, officials said. By the time they arrived, the man had put the blaze out with a gallon of milk.

Earlier in the week, firefighters were called to Hutchinson Road and Indiana Avenue where they found a gallon milk jug in flames, said Dave Lobdell, an assistant chief for the Spokane Valley Fire Department. The cause was unknown.

Firefighters responded to 10 fires between Oct. 18 and Monday, Lobdell said. An old railroad car was among the fires.

About 3:30 p.m. Monday, firefighters went to the 4900 block of East Sprague where they found a railroad car, thought to be a former sleeper car, fully engulfed in flames, Lobdell said. The rail car was being hauled to Idaho to be used as a hunting cabin. It was destroyed.

Spokane Valley firefighters responded to 175 calls between Oct. 18 and Monday, including 131 emergency medical situations and 14 automobile crashes – four with serious injuries, 10 with minor or no injuries, and 10 alarms sounding where there were no fires.

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