California firefighters return from battling Australia fires

Twenty firefighters from California have returned to the United States after spending nearly a month battling wildfires in Australia.

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 30, 2020

Spokane firefighters fourth in fundraising ahead of international blood cancer awareness stairclimb

The Spokane Fire Department team participating in Seattle’s annual Firefighter Stairclimb has raised more than $23,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society so far, making them fourth among teams competing …

Wed., Jan. 22, 2020

Firefighter badly burned in 2015 Twisp River fire reaches $5 million settlement with 2 utilities

A wildland firefighter badly burned in the 2015 Twisp River blaze has reached a $5 million settlement with two utility companies that he had sued for allegedly failing to keep …

Tue., Jan. 14, 2020

Goat meal? Spokane could deploy goats to tame wildfire fuel

Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer and Councilwoman Lori Kinnear are proposing that the city of Spokane pilot a program that would see trips of goats chow down through brush in the …

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 7, 2020

U.S. sends more firefighters to help battle Australia blazes

The U.S. is planning to send at least 100 more firefighters to Australia to join 159 already there battling blazes that have killed 25 people and destroyed 2,000 homes.

Wed., Nov. 20, 2019

Care comes full circle: Spokane Valley firefighters assisted nurse, and she has returned the favor

A Spokane Valley Fire Employees Scholarship recipient in 2013, Alexis Skjelbred became a Spokane nurse a few years later. She’d once abandoned that dream after high school academic struggles. A …

Sun., Oct. 27, 2019

Tangled relationship between Spokane firefighters, Stuckart continues in mayor’s race

If $118,000 says anything, it’s that the firefighters of Spokane have a stake in this year’s municipal elections, particularly in the mayor’s race.

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 9, 2019

Alaska wildfire poses unique challenges for Spokane firefighters called to assist

While it never grew more than 400 acres, the Montana Creek Fire threatened the historic town of Talkeetna and drew a large response from firefighters around the Northwest continental United …

UPDATED: Thu., July 25, 2019

Three injured in Spokane Valley crash

The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to a two-car crash that sent three people to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The crash, which happened at about 12:45 …

UPDATED: Wed., July 24, 2019

Homes ordered to be evacuated, Highway 904 closed due to fire west of Cheney

Fire officials ordered the evacuation of about 10 homes near the intersection of Graham Road and Highway 904 near Cheney on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

UPDATED: Thu., July 11, 2019

House fire in Browne’s Addition causes no injuries

No one was hurt after a sparking dryer caused a house fire in Browne’s Addition on Thursday evening, residents said.

UPDATED: Thu., May 23, 2019

Boy trapped in tree, rescued by firefighters

Firefighters rescued a boy trapped in a tree at Garry Middle School in north Spokane on Thursday evening.

UPDATED: Thu., March 14, 2019

Last October firefighters installed smoke alarms in a Spokane Valley home; that investment saved lives when the home caught fire Wednesday night.

A fire at a Spokane Valley mobile home on Wednesday would have turned out much worse if firefighters wouldn’t have responded to the same house last year, for a non-fire …

UPDATED: Mon., March 11, 2019

Spokane Valley firefighter places high in skyscraper “stair climb” fundraiser with personal meaning

Spokane Valley firefighter Joseph Connelly described his climb up 69 flights of stairs at the Columbia Center in Seattle as the 13 most “grueling minutes of his life.”

UPDATED: Tue., March 5, 2019

Sparking car catches fire; flames spread to second vehicle

Two cars burst into flames Tuesday in Spokane Valley, but no one was hurt.

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 26, 2019

Barn catches fire in Valleyford; four animals die

A barn in Valleyford caught fire Tuesday afternoon, killing a dog, a sheep and two lambs.

Tue., Nov. 6, 2018

Fire crews work to put out house fire; no injuries

Spokane firefighters responded to a house fire at 700 N. Altamont St. that started at about 2 p.m. Tuesday.

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 13, 2018

Firefighters: Phone scam is targeting Spokane-area residents

Spokane Firefighters Union alerted residents Saturday that a new phone scam asking for donations to support a “firefighter support fund” appears to be targeting Spokane.

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 13, 2018

Houston firefighters take battle over pay to voters

Houston firefighters who have been in a bitter battle with the city for higher wages are taking their case to voters.

Tue., Sept. 11, 2018

Caught in the crossfire: Hunters fired near Aussie firefighters battling Miriam Fire

Federal authorities said two hunters were cited after they entered a closed area and fired their rifles in the direction of firefighters who were battling a wildfire near the White …

Sun., Sept. 9, 2018

Fallen firefighters memorial offers solemn remembrance, as 9/11 anniversary approaches

Deputy Chief Kirk Carpenter of the Nampa Fire Department told the crowd at the annual Idaho Fallen Firefighters Memorial ceremony on Friday that he’s a third-generation firefighter, following in the …

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 3, 2018

UI study shows health, reaction-time declines in firefighters

An online survey that drew some 400 firefighters mostly identified mental and physical fatigue as the primary cause of injuries to firefighters who are often confronted with a changing, dangerous …

Sun., Aug. 26, 2018

Rehab units help firefighters with overexertion, dehydration

Rehabilitation units provide both a mandated and a vital service for firefighters – giving them respite from the heat and weather, fluids and energy snacks, and medical evaluations before going …

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 19, 2018

Quick response saves burning house from ruin; one firefighter injured

An early morning house fire displaced a family and damaged a house Sunday at 808 E. Bridgeport Ave.

Sat., July 14, 2018

Elite Native American crew fights fires, serves community

Members of the Warm Springs Hotshots were getting ready to head home when the radio buzzed – a wildfire had started – and the elite crew launched into motion to …

Fri., July 13, 2018

Hanford fire captains say their paychecks have been shortchanged

A dozen current or former Hanford fire captains or platoon sergeants are suing their employer over pay.

UPDATED: Mon., July 9, 2018

All-female firefighter crew is a milestone for Fire District 10

Spokane County Fire District 10 has been trying to organize an all-female crew for months. Last week, it pulled it off.

Thu., April 12, 2018

Radioactive sludge barrel ruptures at Idaho nuclear site

A barrel containing radioactive sludge ruptured at an Idaho nuclear facility, federal officials said Thursday, resulting in no injuries and no risk to the public but possibly slowing progress in …

Sun., March 25, 2018

Two firefighters killed, 3 injured in West Virginia accident

Two West Virginia firefighters were killed and three others were injured when a volunteer fire department’s truck flipped while responding to a call about a highway accident that also had …

Sat., March 24, 2018

2 firefighters killed, 3 injured trying to reach fatal wreck