SPOKANE VALLEY, WA – An increased level of oxygen emitted from a homeowner’s medical oxygen tank has been determined to be the cause of a fire that fully gutted a Spoke Valley trailer, killing the occupant inside.
The Spoke Valley Fire Department reports:
911 dispatched Spokane Valley Fire crews after a passerby saw flames from a Trailer Home and called 911. The passerby knew the home and the resident. He attempted entry but was unable due to black smoke and intense flames.
Crews arrived knowing potentially someone was inside. They made rapid entry into the mobile home looking for the resident. Black smoke and a heavy working fire were underway and unfortunately, the elderly resident did not survive the fire. The home was familiar to SVFD Fire crews from prior 911 calls for medical help.
Information regarding the fatality was initially withheld from reporting until family members could be notified. Spokane Valley Fire is saddened at the loss of a member of our community and offer condolences to the family for their great loss. The SVFD Chaplain arrived on scene to help with the needs of the family members and Firefighters.
The fire continues to be under investigation through a collaboration between the Spokane Valley Fire Investigator and an additional Forensic Investigator.
ORIGINAL RELEASE – December 10, 8:55 a.m.
Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units were dispatched at 5:43 this morning for a report of a structure fire in the 900 block of S. Nina Cir. A passerby saw flames from a Trailer Home and called 911. The passerby knew the home and the resident. He attempted entry but was unable due to black smoke and intense flames.
Firefighters on Engine 1, from SVFD’s University Station, arrived within five minutes of being dispatched to find a single wide mobile home with flames showing in four windows on one side of the home. The fire was quickly declared a working fire, which brings additional preplanned resources bringing the total to six engine companies, two ladder companies, along with command staff. Units from the City of Spokane, and Fire District 8 responded as part of automatic aid.
This was the second working fire of the shift, with crews also rotating through a ‘Firewatch’ on the N Best incident overnight dealing with hotspots. No injuries were reported to firefighters during suppression operations.
Photos by Spokane Valley FD