Multiple city crews rescue pair stranded in tree in Spokane River
The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded for a water rescue on Memorial Day.
Firefighters received a report of two people in distress near Sullivan Road and the Spokane River on May 28 at 1:20 p.m. Crews upon arrival spotted two people sitting in a tree 50 feet from shore by the Spokane Valley Mall.
The Spokane Valley Special Operations Team deployed four inflatable kayaks upstream on the Spokane River to rescue the twentysomething male and female and brought them to shore near Mirabeau Park. They were floating on inflatable water toys and not wearing life jackets. No injuries were reported.
A total of 11 firetrucks, command and support vehicles responded to the scene, which included Spokane Fire Department crews as well as deputies from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Other calls May 21 to June 3:
May 21: Crews responded at 5:20 p.m. to a report of an empty kayak floating in the Spokane River near the 25100 block of East River Road. When firefighters arrived, they were unable to locate the kayak; however, the Spokane Valley battalion chief received a call from an off-duty captain who said a friend lost his kayak and was safe.
May 22: Firefighters responded at 4 p.m. to a report of a fire near the 900 block of South Pines Road. The reporting party said she witnessed four boys starting a fire in weeds near a dumpster and called Crime Check. When crews arrived at the scene, the fire was extinguished. A 16-year-old boy admitted to the fire investigator that he started the fire.
May 28: Crews responded at about 8:30 p.m. to an illegal burn in an apartment on the 2400 block of North Wilbur Road. When crews arrived, they found an apartment occupant burning construction debris in her fireplace. Crews advised the occupant that burning debris is not acceptable. The resident put out the fire.
May 30: A 20-year-old man lost control of his bicycle and hit a vehicle on the 9900 block of East Montgomery Road at about 2:20 p.m. The man complained of hip and shoulder pain and was transported to a hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries.
May 31: Firefighters responded at about noon to a crash involving a dump truck and a sedan near the 15500 block of East Flora Pit Road. The dump truck was headed northbound on Sullivan Road when it was struck by the sedan. The driver and two passengers were extricated from the sedan and transported to a hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.
June 1: Crews responded at about 6:20 p.m. to a report of a barbecue on fire on the 600 block of South Shoreline Drive. The resident extinguished the fire before crews arrived.
June 2: Firefighters responded to a call reporting a cooking fire at about 12:10 p.m. on the 11200 block of East Fourth Avenue. A resident said her son was cooking corn dogs in oil when the pan caught fire. When crews arrived, they observed a pan on the stove with a burning handle. They took the pan outside and extinguished the fire. There was light smoke damage to the cabinet above the stove.
June 3: Firefighters around midnight responded to a call from a woman locked inside a storage gate on the 13200 block of East Trent Avenue. They assisted in opening an electric gate to let the woman out.
By the numbers: The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to 604 calls: 49 fire calls, 23 alarm system response calls, 461 emergency medical service calls, three extrication calls, six water-rescue calls, four hazardous-material investigations, 45 motor vehicle collisions and 13 service calls.