Home severely damaged in Friday fire

A fire severely damaged a Spokane home Friday afternoon and injured a firefighter.

When crews arrived at 3606 S. Mt. Vernon St. about 1 p.m., they found flames escaping from the back of the house, said Spokane Fire Department spokesman Battalion Chief Dan Brown.

Firefighters climbed up and knocked holes into the roof to relieve smoke and heat building in the attic. The fire spread from the back of the home to engulf the first and second floors. The large home had an attached, smaller apartment.

One firefighter was sent to a local hospital for observation after falling debris hit him.

It took 22 firefighters about 30 minutes to put out the blaze and an additional two hours to mop up, Brown said.

Nobody was inside the home at the time of the fire. Damage to the house was estimated at about $80,000. The cause is still under investigation.