Five vehicle fires among recent calls

An illegal burn, people stuck in an elevator and hot ashes put in a cardboard box were among Spokane Valley Fire Department’s 173 calls between March 14 and 20.

Fire crews responded to seven fires, and one almost fire, spokesman Bill Clifford said. The blazes included assisting Spokane County Fire District No. 8 with a barn fire, five vehicle fires and the call where someone put ashes from their fireplace in a box.

The almost fire was a candle left burning at an office building on March 15, Clifford said. Someone saw the candle’s flame and called 911, but when firefighters arrived, the call changed to candle left unattended.

Firefighters also went to a home where the resident was burning yard debris in a barrel, Clifford said. “You can’t do that,” Clifford said. “For regulations on backyard burning, people should contact their local fire department.”

Crews went out on three service calls, Clifford said. Two involved getting children out of locked cars. The third was to help people out of a stuck elevator at the Spokane Regional Health Center, 10818 E. Broadway.

Valley Fire also responded to 131 emergency medical calls, but nothing unusual, Clifford said.