Crews douse house fire on S. Verde St.

Incident Date:  1/8/14

Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke

Incident Location:  5909 S. Verde St. 

Incident Type:  Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 10:04 pm, Firefighters from stations 2,7,8,10,16 and 17 responded to a reported residential house fire. 

The first arriving company found flames and smoke showing from the approximately 1,600 sq foot two-story house. Crews attacked the fire that started in a bedroom of a mother-in-law apartment above the garage of the house and searched the structure to confirm no occupants were trapped. 

All occupants escaped without harm and their no injuries to report. The cause of the fire was undetermined and resulted in an estimated $19,000 damage to the building and its contents. 

Firefighters respond to house fire on 43rd Street NE

Incident Date:  1/8/14
Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke
Incident Location:  4587 43rd ST NE
Incident Type:  Residential Structure Fire

Narrative:  At 11:18 am, Firefighters from stations 2, 3, 4, 9, 11 and 12 responded to a reported house fire.

The first arriving engine company found smoke showing from the second floor of the two story approximately 1,700 square foot house. Crews attacked the fire with handlines and conducted a search of the building to confirm that no one was trapped inside.

No occupants were home at the time of the incident and there are no injuries to report. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE:  The probable cause of the fire was the spontaneous combustion of discarded rags damp with paint thinner. The fire did an estimated $28,000 damage to the building and its contents.   

House fire 3500 block S. Sheridan Ave.

Incident Date:  1/6/14

Issuing Officer:  Joe Meinecke

Incident Location:  3525 S. Sheridan Ave. 

Incident Type:  Residential House Fire

Narrative:  At 3:27 PM, Engine 2  responded to a reported wall fire in a house. Upon arrival, the engine company noted smoke showing from the eaves on both sides of the 1 1/2 story approximately 1,500 square foot structure. The response was quickly upgraded to a full residential alarm, bringing additional resources from stations 1,2,4,7,and 8.

Crews attacked the fire that was burning in the attic area with handlines, ventilated the roof, and conducted search and rescue to confirm no one was trapped inside the structure. All occupants were able to escape without harm and three adults and four children were displaced in the blaze. 

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

UPDATE:  The cause of the fire was failure of electrical wiring in the attic space, resulting in an estimated $23,000 damage to the building and its contents.