Fire at Spokane Valley Krispy Kreme causes minor damage

A kitchen fire Tuesday night at Krispy Kreme in Spokane Valley left the business with minor damage.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded at about 8:40 p.m. to reports of smoke and flames at the doughnut chain located at 15401 E. Indiana Ave. The 911 caller said a fryer inside the restaurant had caught fire, according to the fire department.

When firefighters arrived, they found a smoke column streaming out of exterior roof vents. More resources were quickly requested, the department said in a news release .

The manager of Krispy Kreme told firefighters she saw flames erupt from hot oil in a fryer. She then evacuated the building and used two dry chemical extinguishers on the bulk of the fire, according to the news release.

Due to her quick work the fire was mostly contained and the growth slowed, the fire department said. Firefighters used high pressure fans to move the smoke out of the building, and damage was kept to a minimum.

No civilians or firefighters were injured and the cause of the fire is under investigation, the fire department said. It’s unknown when Krispy Kreme will be able to reopen, the department said.

It’s National Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 4-10 with a theme of fire safety in the kitchen. Spokane Valley Fire Department warned that grease fires can occur at home so keep lids nearby when cooking.

If a small grease fire starts in a pan, smother the flames by sliding the lid over the pan and turning off the burner. To keep the fire from restarting, keep the lid on the pan until the pan has cooled.