Spokane Valley fire roundup: Burn in a hopper full of wood chips proves difficult
Firefighters battled a stubborn fire at Premier Lumber on East Kildea Road recently, finally dousing a fire in a wood-filled hopper by dumping water on it from above.
The fire started in a blower shed on Aug. 7, likely from an overheated bearing in an electric blower that was being used to move sawdust through a pipe, said Spokane Valley Fire Department spokeswoman Melanie Rose.
The burning sawdust landed in a hopper full of wood, setting that on fire as well. “There were a lot of layers of wood chips in there that continued to drop down and ignite,” Rose said.
No one was injured in the fire.
Other calls from Aug. 7-20
Aug. 7: A small grass fire was reported between an on-ramp and westbound Interstate 90 near Exit 299. Crews were assisted by Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.
Aug. 8: The smell of smoke caused the evacuation of Grocery Outlet at 4200 E. Sprague Ave. The smell was traced to a faulty light ballast.
Aug. 9: A home fire alarm system went off in a house in the 17600 block of East Montgomery Avenue. No one was home, and there was no sign of smoke or flames. The alarm shut itself off.
Aug. 10: A motorcycle collided with a van at Pines Road and Eighth Avenue. The rider was wearing a helmet and was taken to a local hospital.
Aug. 11: A small fire was discovered smoldering in the landscaping of an apartment building at 1400 N. McDonald Road. The fire grew as large as 15 feet by 10 feet before it was put out. A 70-year-old motorcyclist went down in the 25100 block of East Trent Avenue, striking the curb. The rider was initially unconscious and had severe injuries.
Aug. 14: Firefighters responded to help two deputies who found themselves locked inside a self-storage facility in the 16700 block of East Sprague Avenue when a gate closed behind them and they couldn’t get it open.
Aug. 15: The department’s rescue task force stood by while the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant. No injuries were reported.
Aug. 16: An unauthorized burning call was received from the 1700 block of North Walnut Road. A resident was roasting marshmallows over a backyard fire and said she didn’t realize a burn ban was in place. A bicyclist crossing the road was hit by a small pickup truck at the intersection of Pines and Mission Avenue. The truck driver fled the scene. The bicyclist had minor injuries.
Aug. 18: Firefighters were called to help a man stuck half in and half out of a partially opened car window in the Yoke’s parking lot on East Sprague. The man said he reached in the window to get a booster seat and got stuck. Crews lifted the man’s legs and were able to pull him out uninjured.
Aug. 19: A backyard campfire was reported in the 3300 block of North Tschirley Road. The homeowner said he did not know there was a burn ban.
Aug. 20: A broken pipe flooded the Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels office at 12101 E. Sprague Ave. with 2 inches of water.
By the numbers: Crews responded to 691 calls in the two weeks from Aug. 7 to Aug. 20, including 542 calls for emergency medical services. Additional responses included 42 car crashes, numerous illegal backyard campfires and a natural gas leak caused when a man hit a gas meter with his car.