Ritzville Fire Department responds to structure fire during heat wave

The Ritzville Fire Department hardly received a break over the weekend due to high temperatures and high winds causing major fire hazards. The crew’s weekend began by responding to a structure fire late Saturday morning.

The call came in around 11 a.m. with a report of a possible electrical fire at 109 West Fifth Avenue. Ritzville Fire Chief Bill Banner said the fire started from a wiring issue in the home.

The homeowner stated he turned on his breaker and shortly after smelt smoke, Banner reported. When he turned the breaker off, the smoke continued and the fire began to spread throughout the inside of the wall of the home. The homeowner quickly called dispatch for the department’s assistance.

In order to try and contain the burning, fire crews opened up an outside vent from the attic and knocked down the flames.

The crew used an infrared machine to detect any heat signatures throughout the home. Banner said they decided to cut into the ceiling of one of the bedrooms to ensure all the hot spots had been extinguished.

In order to prevent damage to the homeowner’s belongings, the crew cleared the personal property from the bedroom before proceeding to cut into the ceiling, said Banner.

Banner stated 12 firefighters were on scene helping contain the burning from spreading any further.

Temperatures exceeded 90 degrees while the crew remained on the scene, causing some heat related issues for the firefighters in their heavy gear. Banner requested an ambulance at the scene to provide wellness checks on the crew to ensure their safety.

Banner also said he tried to cycle the crew in and out of the action more than usual due to the heat issues.

The firefighters received a respite from the heat with a delivery of watermelon slices from siblings Maycee and Hagen Carlson. The refreshing treat lifted the crew’s spirits and allowed them to brace the heat, Banner said.

The crew also received help from Ritzville Police Sergeant Mark Cameron with traffic control on the scene, blocking off the street so the crew had plenty of room to work and ensuring the safety of those standing by.

Adams County Deputy Juan Garcia and Deputy Ned Bernath provided the crew with water to keep them hydrated throughout the shift.

Despite the 90-degree weather, no civilians or firefighters were harmed during the event. The crew managed to extinguish the fire and clean up the scene in a matter of four hours before returning to the station.

Banner said the house is repairable but he estimated about $25,000 in damages overall.

However, he said he is very impressed with his crew and their ability to minimize the personal damage, which could have been much worse.

Banner stated his gratitude towards his crew’s effort and also expressed his appreciation towards those who offered helping hands to the crew. Their generosity is what makes the crew’s job so rewarding, Banner said.