Chiefs’ scoreboard shut off during fire

A small fire caused the power to Spokane Arena’s main scoreboard to be cut during the Spokane Chiefs championship series hockey game Monday night.

The fire – a small flame with minimal smoke – started in wiring along a rail used to move the scoreboard, Spokane Fire Lt. Bill Schaich said.

The fire did not trigger smoke alarms in the building, where thousands of hockey fans gathered to watch the Chiefs beat the Tri-City Americans 2-0 to take the lead in the Western Hockey League playoff series.

Crews were called to the scene about 7:15 p.m. on a report of sparks. The arena was not evacuated, and most fans likely were unaware of the fire, Spokane Fire Battalion Chief Craig Cornelius said.

Firefighter Jason Archibald was attached to a harness and walked out on a footwide beam with a powder extinguisher to reach the wiring on an adjacent beam, Schaich said.

“One shot and it put it right out,” he said.

Schaich said the problem may have been caused by confetti that landed on wiring.