Kitchen fire one of 220 emergency calls in a week

Wayward cigarette butts, illegal burning and a cutting torch taken to a van kept firefighters at the Spokane Valley Fire Department busy between June 19 and Monday.

A total of 220 calls for emergency service were received during the week, said department spokesman Bill Clifford.

Eleven of those initially were reported as structure fires, but three turned out to be smoke from illegal burning.

At 4:17 p.m. Saturday, firefighters were called to an apartment in the 2700 block of north Evergreen Road. A kitchen fire had spread into the cabinets, but the resident had a fire extinguisher and was able to put the fire out, Clifford said.

Two vehicle fires were reported, including one apparently started when someone was working under his van with a cutting torch.

“By the time he came back around to the top side of the van, it was on fire,” Clifford said.

The other fire started in the engine compartment of a vehicle parked in front of a Napa Auto Parts store. Employees were able to put the fire out.

Four brush fires also were reported.

One started when someone threw a smoldering cigarette into some landscaping material – something that Clifford said has been happening more often since smoking was banned indoors.

Of 12 fire alarm systems that went off during the week, all either were false alarms or were set off by smoke from flammable items left near stoves, Clifford said.

The department also was called to 16 vehicle accidents. Two required transportation to a hospital, Clifford said.

One hazardous-materials call, two service calls and 175 emergency medical calls rounded out the week.