Fire destroys semi trailer

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews were “back to normal” the week of Jan. 26-Feb. 1, Assistant Fire Marshal Bill Clifford said, responding to 189 calls ranging from natural gas leaks to fires.

In the 10300 block of East Buckeye Avenue, a semi trailer filled with wooden pallets caught on fire and sent a plume of black smoke over the Valley on Jan. 27. Firefighters responded at 12:22 p.m. “They had propane heaters at both ends blowing hot air in to dry the pallets and it caught fire,” Clifford said.

The propane tank providing fuel for the heaters was right next to the trailer. “It had the firefighters worried,” Clifford said. The tank was wet down and the fire put out. “It totally consumed the trailer,” he said.

A garage fire was reported in the 1800 block of South Mamer Road at 9:15 p.m. on Jan. 27. A four-wheeler was totally destroyed and a car was damaged by the heat, Clifford said. The fire was accidental.

Mako the arson dog assisted the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department with a suspicious restaurant fire the morning of Jan. 30. “He hit on quite a few areas where accelerants were used,” Clifford said.

The recent surge in auto-pedestrian traffic accidents in Spokane spread east to Spokane Valley on Jan. 30. Firefighters were called to the 7100 block of East Fifth Avenue at 5:50 p.m. to treat a man who had been hit by a car. The car fled the scene before help arrived, Clifford said. The man reportedly had serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

There were five other car accidents reported during the week along with 161 EMS calls. Atypically, there were no calls for children locked in cars, Clifford said. “It was fairly quiet.”