Eight structure fires among Fire department calls

The Spokane Valley Fire Department had 230 calls from Sept. 13 to Sept. 19, with most major calls being fires and auto accidents.

There were eight structure fires, including the Blue Dolphin Bar fire, a deck fire that worked its way up into the attic of a house and a woodstove fire in a home.

Valley Fire spokesman Bill Clifford said that heating appliances, such as heaters, stoves and furnaces, or fireplaces, need to be serviced before being used. If appliances are not professionally cleaned out, it could have build up and debris that could start a fire.

Of the 17 motor vehicle accidents, 10 people were sent to the hospital, many with severe injuries. One accident on Interstate 90 on Sept. 14th sent three people to the hospital after their vehicle rolled over and they were ejected. The department considered them in severe condition at the time of the accident.

Another accident involved a small child who had minor injuries from being hit by a car. Clifford reminds drivers to be cautious of young children walking to school.

Other calls from the week: 179 EMS calls; seven brush fires; two vehicle fires; two trash fires (one of which was in a burn barrel, which is illegal); 11 alarm systems, most of which where false or minor; one hazardous materials calls and three service calls

The burn ban is still ongoing until Oct. 13.