Washington Firefighters Battle Apartment Blaze

Nov. 29, 2007
Three tenants and a dog were trapped on the roof

Crews from the Spokane, Wash. Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at about 12:13 a.m. on Nov. 24.

Firefighters reported fire showing from several blocks away. The first crew on-scene reported fire coming from the top floor of the two-and-a-half story, wood-framed apartment building.

There were three civilians trapped on the roof. All three civilians, along with their dog, were rescued from the roof by Fire Station 4 personnel using their aerial ladder.

During the rescue operation, other firefighters aggressively attacked the fire from the interior of the structure and from an outside fire escape. The fire had extended into the attic and a ventilation hole was cut in the roof to relieve the pent-up heat and smoke in the apartment's top floor.

The fire was brought under control within 40 minutes and crews remained on scene for the rest of the morning. < /p>

Of the three civilians rescued from the roof, two were treated and released from a local hospital with minor burns and smoke inhalation. The third person was reportedly transported to the Harbor View Burn Center. His condition was not known at the time of this release.

The rest of the apartment's tenants are being assisted by Red Cross. There were no reported injuries to firefighters.

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