Many emergency calls weather-related

Business has been brisk for Valley firefighters and EMTs, with freezing weather bringing an increase in accidents and frozen water pipes.

They handled 214 calls, including 10 fires, between Jan. 9 and Monday.

Five of those calls were house fires. One started when a hair dryer used to thaw out frozen pipes ignited some nearby wood, said Kevin Miller, Spokane Valley fire marshal. Another call resulted from a smoky furnace.

Other fire responses included a chimney fire and smoke from a legal burn pile in the Ponderosa neighborhood.

Firefighters also handled three arsons in the early morning of Jan. 15. Anyone with information on the fires that consumed a car, hedge and outbuilding is asked to call 242-TIPS.

Cold temperatures were to blame for many of the 21 false fire alarms the department received.

“A lot of them were broken pipes from the freezing weather,” Miller said.

Traffic accidents were up, with 28 reported, he said. Ten resulted in injuries.

The department also responded to a car lockout, a downed power line and 214 medical calls, including eight falls attributed to slippery weather.