Man airlifted to hospital after downtown apartment fire

A man was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after sustaining severe burns in a fire today in downtown Spokane. The Spokane Fire Department responded to the fire at 2:36 p.m. at Avondale Court apartment at 229 W. Second Avenue. Witnesses reported the male victim, who has not been identified, was “on fire in the hallway of the first floor,” a fire department news release said. He suffered critical third-degree burns on about 60 percent of his body, the news release said, as well as significant airway burns. “That’s pretty extensive,” said Battalion Chief Clive Jones. The victim was initially taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center but was later airlifted to Harborview. His condition is unknown. About 25 tenants were temporarily displaced but will be able to return home this evening, Jones said. The fire was contained to the one unit, he said, and there is about $10,000 in smoke and fire damage to the structure. A fire alarm and sprinkler system helped confine the fire to one unit and notify residents they needed to evacuate, the news release said. No other injuries were reported in the fire. Invesitgators are still looking into the cause.