Valley Firefighters Extinguish Restaurant Grease Fire
Spokane Valley, Wash. – Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) units responded shortly after 11:00 am to a report of flames coming from the roof of the Three Sisters Vietnamese & Chinese Cuisine restaurant, located at 10615 E. Sprague Avenue.
SVFD units traveling to the scene observed smoke coming from the single-story building and upgraded the incident to a working fire, bringing more firefighting resources to the scene. Crews arrived to find flames coming from a roof vent above the restaurant’s kitchen. They quickly extinguished the fire, preventing further damage and then methodically checked the structure for any fire that may have extended outside the kitchen ventilation system.
The proprietors were inside the building, preparing to open the restaurant when the fire started in wok grease that ignited when it became too hot. The cook attempted to put the fire out with water which caused the fire to flash up into the hood, through the exhaust vent and into the roof vent. The fire was contained to the kitchen ventilation system. Investigators on the scene determined the cause to be an accidental grease fire. Damage is estimated at about $35,000. Four individuals inside the restaurant at the time of the fire safely evacuated. One person was checked for burns and released unharmed. No other injuries were reported.
A total of 15 fire apparatus and support vehicles responded to the fire. Units from Spokane Fire Department, Spokane County Fire District 8 and District 9 provided back-up coverage in the Spokane Valley Fire Department service area during the fire response.
SVFD would like to remind residents to ‘keep an eye on what you fry’. If grease or oil catches fire, turn off the heat and cover the pot with a metal lid. Keep a multi-purpose fire extinguisher handy when cooking. Never use water on a grease fire, which can cause the fire to flash and spread.
Spokane News original Facebook posting of this incident can be found HERE.
About SVFD
Spokane Valley Fire Department serves the City of Spokane Valley, City of Liberty Lake, City of Millwood and unincorporated areas of Spokane County with a combined population of 125,000 across approximately 75 square miles. SVFD firefighters and paramedics responded to more than 16,250 emergency calls in 2016. Established in 1940, SVFD is an Accredited Agency by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, one of only a handful in the state of Washington. For more information about SVFD, visitwww.spokanevalleyfire.com.