Valley fire crew helps ‘unlucky guy’ on Christmas Eve

The man requesting help getting into a Spokane Valley condo wasn’t wearing a red suit and a white beard, but it never hurts to check.

A Spokane Valley Fire Department crew was called at 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve by a man who said he had locked himself out of his condo in the 6100 block of East Sixth Avenue, said Fire Marshal Kevin Miller.

“While it was Christmas Eve and given the hour, the crews suspected that maybe Santa was attempting assistance from the fire department to access a condo,” Miller said.

Firefighters checked his identification and determined he was just an “unlucky guy” who had locked his keys inside his house, Miller said.

Other calls from Dec. 22-28.

Dec. 22: A cooking fire was reported at the Eagle Rock Apartments at 12423 E. Mansfield Ave. Residents were able to put it out.

Dec. 25: A dumpster fire was reported at the Meadow Ridge Apartments at 12420 E. Mansfield Ave. Only the dumpster was damaged.

Dec. 26: A backfiring pickup truck started a bush on fire at the Mirabeau Hotel at 1100 N. Sullivan Road. Employees were able to put the fire out before it spread.

Dec. 28: Residents in the 144000 block of East Broadway Avenue reported seeing flames shooting out of a chimney. Firefighters determined that the fire had not spread to the house.

By the numbers: Crews responded to 238 calls for service from Dec. 22-28, including 208 for emergency medical services. Other calls included 11 car accidents and one illegal outdoor fire.