Barbecue, grass fires among calls crews respond to

Spokane Valley fire and medical crews went on 189 emergency calls between Sept. 26 and Monday.

Four of those were reported as structure fires, said Spokane Valley Fire spokesman Bill Clifford. One turned out to be a too-large campfire at Sullivan Park, and another involved a malfunctioning barbecue grill.

“People need to check for leaks” in hoses and other grill parts that have been sitting out in the sun all summer, Clifford said.

There also were reports of two car fires and six brush fires, including a small grass fire behind the Good Samaritan nursing home.

A group of children between 11 and 13 playing with matches started a fire Sunday near the 1800 block of East 12th Court, Clifford said. It was quickly put out by a firefighter and the children are now participating in a fire education program.

Smoke that prompted one call came from someone spinning the tires on a car in a driveway near 16th Avenue and Evergreen Road on Sept. 27. Tire burnouts have accounted for about a half-dozen fire calls this year, Clifford said.

Medical emergencies made up 145 of the calls that week, which included 16 vehicle crashes.