Barbecue smoke generates false alarm
A new barbecue business in Spokane Valley got a warm welcome from the Spokane Valley Fire Department recently.
Firefighters were called to a commercial fire in the 200 block of South Pines Road at 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 23. But as soon as crews arrived and sniffed the air, they knew it was a false alarm, said Fire Marshal Kevin Miller. “They were doing some smoking out back,” Miller said.
The department has responded to multiple brush fires lately, some of which were part of an arson spree that resulted in the arrest of a 16-year-old boy last week. During that time period, crews also responded to brush fires in the 5300 block of North Idaho Road and the 5200 block of North Powell Road. While no cause has been determined, investigators do not believe those two are tied to the arson spree, Miller said.
Residents in the areas south of Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake were tense while multiple arson fires a day were occurring, so much so that dust kicked up by a farmer in his field in the area of 32nd Avenue and Barker Road resulted in multiple calls to the department Sept. 29.
Other fire calls from Sept. 18 to Oct. 5
Sept. 18: A molten aluminum spill was reported at Kaiser Aluminum at 5:30 a.m. Crews used CO2 extinguishers on the spill.
Two people injured in a car accident at Sharp Avenue and Howe Street had to be extricated from their vehicle. Three people, including a pregnant woman, were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Sept. 21: A cigarette discarded in a potted plant started a deck fire in the 19000 block of East Maxwell Avenue. There was $4,000 in damage.
Sept. 22: A bicyclist sustained injuries to his head and elbow after being hit by a car at Broadway Avenue and Bowdish Road.
Sept. 23: A bicyclist wearing a helmet was hit by a car at Pines Road and Indiana Avenue at 3:30 p.m. He complained of back pain.
Sept. 24: Hot tar caught fire during roofing work at Honeywell at 15100 E. Euclid Ave. The fire did not spread, but the interior of the building filled with smoke.
Sept. 27: A suspicious fire was reported in a portion of a strip mall undergoing remodeling work at 9827 E. Sprague Ave. The fire is believed to have been intentionally set and caused $100,000 in damage. The incident is under investigation.
Sept. 30: Valley crews assisted Spokane County Fire District 8 with a 9-year-old boy who ran out in the road and was hit by a slow-moving school bus in the area of Chapman Road and Sumner Lane. The boy was not seriously injured.
Oct. 4: A fatal motorcycle accident was reported at Broadway Avenue and Burns Road.
Oct. 5: Neighbors reported a beeping smoke alarm in an apartment in the 9400 block of East Mission Avenue at 3:40 a.m. Firefighters could see thick smoke in the apartment but no one responded to their knocks. The resident awoke when firefighters broke down his door. A pizza had been left in a hot oven.
By the numbers: Firefighters responded to 733 calls from Sept. 18 to Oct. 5, including 539 medical service calls. They also responded to 47 car accidents, 17 illegal fires, a water rescue, an unusual odor that turned out to be paint and two people stuck in an elevator at Guardian Angel in Liberty Lake.