Structure fire claims three out buildings

The Ritzville Fire Department responded to a structure fire call on the morning of Tuesday, April 18, on west Cherry Street.

The Adams County Fire Protection District No. 1 Fire Chief Scott Kembel said they received the call of a structure fire at 3:52 a.m., which involved three out buildings.

Kembel said as he stepped outside of his residence, he could smell the smoke from the fire and noticed the glow of the flames in the distance.

Kembel stated 14 firefighters responded in the ladder truck, a pumper and the rescue truck.

When they arrived at the scene, Kembel said the fire had completely engulfed three out buildings.

The residents had been safely evacuated from the home due to the efforts of Ritzville Police Officer Matt Carlson, he added. Kembel said Carlson noticed the fire and quickly evacuated the area until the department arrived on scene.

The ladder truck arrived first at the scene and the crew worked to extinguish the flames. As the other two trucks arrived, Kembel said they worked together to secure the area.

The crew quickly connected the ladder truck’s hose nozzle to a nearby fire hydrant, said Kembel. They also used the truck’s hand lines, he added.

In order to extinguish the fire the crew used around 20,000 gallons of water, Kembel explained. He said they contacted Avista Utilities to disconnect the gas and power to the home in an attempt to prevent the blaze from growing.

After they extinguished the flames, Kembel said they checked for hot spots to ensure the blaze would not spark up again. The department spent three hours at the scene ensuring the safety of the residence.

Kembel said the structures involved were a complete loss and they are unsure of the total cost of property loss.

Joel Bell served as acting chief on the call, and Kembel said they were pleased with how the crew performed and the response time.

He said the firefighters continue to work hard to protect the community and he appreciates their strong efforts on calls. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.