Spokane Valley fire roundup: Electrical panel, two clothes dryers were in flames

The Spokane Valley Fire Department last week responded to several calls, including two fires originating from clothes dryers and an electrical panel fire that knocked out power to 10 businesses at the Spokane Industrial Park.

Fire crews responded to a commercial fire at the Spokane Industrial Park at approximately 9 a.m. on Jan. 10. Flames and smoke were emanating from an electrical panel inside Travis Pattern and Foundry, a manufacturer of metal fabrications.

When crews arrived, the fire was contained to the electrical panel and extinguished by employees using more than 30 fire extinguishers. The employees had evacuated and investigators noted arcing power lines outside the building.

Firefighters contacted Avista Utilities, which reported 10 businesses lost power in the Industrial Park.

The cause of the fire was electrical and started in a nearby transformer and traveled through power lines to the electrical panel inside the building. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters responded to the Clocktower Apartments at the 15000 block of East Fourth Avenue on Jan. 10 for a reported commercial fire that originated in a first floor apartment around 2 p.m.

A mother and her baby were in the first floor apartment when a clothes dryer caught fire. The mother tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire with an extinguisher and evacuated the apartment. A neighbor called 911, and all residents evacuated. Firefighters rescued a cat and boa constrictor from the first floor unit.

There was extensive damage to the first floor apartment unit, but because crews responded quickly, damage didn’t extend to the second and third floor apartments.

The fire department on Jan. 11 responded to a second clothes dryer fire at the 14000 block of East Sprague Avenue around 2 p.m. Crews responded quickly and were able to extinguish the fire.

“It’s a good reminder for people to clean out the lint from the lint trap and back of the dryer,” said fire department spokeswoman Melanie Rose.

Other calls Jan. 8-14

Jan. 9: Crews responded to an abandoned vehicle fire around 1:15 a.m. at the 8000 block of North Idaho Road. When crews arrived, they saw fire coming from the engine and passenger compartment. The fire was extinguished and investigators believe the cause is arson with estimated damage about $11,000.

At approximately 1:15 p.m., crews responded to a fire at Independent Auto Sales at the 5000 block of East Sprague Avenue. The business owner was installing a new doorknob and the electrical panel above the door caught fire. The owner tried unsuccessfully to put out the fire with an extinguisher and subsequently evacuated the building. The fire was contained to the office. Damage is estimated at more than $33,000.

Jan. 10: The department responded to an unauthorized burning call about 6:40 p.m. at the 18500 block of East Indiana Avenue. When crews arrived, they spotted a bonfire in a homeowner’s backyard and instructed the homeowner that bonfires aren’t allowed. The homeowner was cooperative and extinguished the fire.

Jan. 11: A smoke alarm went off at a hotel located on the 9000 block of East Mission Avenue around noon, which prompted the hotel’s alarm company to call the fire department. A hotel employee noticed light smoke on the second floor and individuals safely evacuated from the hotel. Crews conducted a search upon arrival and found one person trapped in an elevator. They rescued the individual – who was unharmed – and helped get the smoke out of the hotel. According to investigators, the fire originated from an elevator motor.

Around 6:15 p.m. at the 8200 block of East Upriver Drive, a man was shoveling snow and realized there was a fire inside his house. The resident called 911, and the battalion chief – who didn’t have water hoses on his truck – was the first unit on the scene. The battalion chief had to break a window to gain access to the fire, which he was able to partially extinguish with water cans. Crews from Fire District 9 responded quickly and completely extinguished the fire. An investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing, but estimated damage to the first floor, kitchen and counter tops was more than $35,000.

Jan. 13: Crews responded to a call around 4 p.m. at the 4800 block of East Sprague Avenue. A resident reported an extinguished fire in the bathroom that originated from a “Molotov cocktail” launched through the bathroom window. Crews didn’t find evidence of a fire, and no injuries were reported. The building manager said she found multiple huffing bottles along with the Molotov cocktail bottle on the property. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident.

An 18-year-old female was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street around 8:30 p.m. on East Sprague Avenue between Adams and Progress roads. Bystanders found the woman in the center of the turn lane with a nonlife-threatening injury to her leg.

By the numbers: Crews responded to 373 calls from Jan. 8 to Jan. 14, which included 22 fire calls, 11 alarm system responses, 291 emergency medical service calls, two extrication calls, six hazmat investigations, 34 motor vehicle accidents and six service calls.