Quiet week for Valley Fire

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews had a quiet week from Sept. 1 to 7 after several weeks in a row of higher-than-normal call numbers.

A more normal 218 calls were received during the week. The number of EMS calls, which has helped drive recent high numbers, dropped to 167.

Crews did respond to an arson fire in the 18500 block of East Courtland Avenue at 3:06 a.m. on Sept. 7. Someone lit a fire on the outside of a manufactured home, said Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford. There was not a lot of damage reported. “It was caught soon enough,” Clifford said. “Somebody inside the home smelled smoke and called the fire department.” Anyone with information on the arson is asked to call (509) 928-1700.

A basement fire was reported in the 6900 block of East Sixth Avenue at 3 p.m. on Sept. 4. The fire produced a lot of smoke and caused about $30,000 in fire and smoke damage, said Clifford. The cause of the fire is believed to be a faulty light, he said.

A crew was sent this week to help with a wildfire near Goldendale, Wash. Firefighters sent to help with a water rescue call in Spokane were canceled while they were en route.

There were 20 car accidents reported during the week, but only six people had to be transported to the hospital. Crews also responded to two water line breaks, including one at Trentwood Elementary. “It looks like they had a water line break on school grounds, not inside the school,” he said.

Clifford said he liked having an uneventful week, especially as the temperatures increase along with the fire danger. “Let’s keep it that way,” he said.