SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane firefighters responded to the homeless encampment near I-90 and Freya Street where a trailer caught on fire on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
According to a press release from SFD, a team of fire marshals were on site when the fire was discovered by nearby campers, who quickly alerted security officials. SFD says units on scene discovered a fast-moving fire in an RV extending to several tents and large piles of combustibles and trash.
Firefighters safely evacuated the camp and accounted for 240 people on site. In addition, SFD says several members community members worked with firefighters to extinguish the blaze, using over 10 extinguishers. However, the extinguishers were not effective due to the size of the fire.
Fire personnel also mentioned having to force entry through the camp's exterior fencing with metal saws. Once inside, they stretched hose lines to control the fire and began searching for people in the RV while halting the blaze's advance to other areas of the camp.
A puppy was rescued during the primary search, SFD says. The RV and other possessions inside the vehicle were destroyed. Two adults and the puppy were displaced and are being assisted by the Red Cross.
At this time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported to fire personnel or residents. The puppy reportedly received first-aid care and remains with the former occupants of the RV, SFD says.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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