Fire destroys District 3 volunteer's home

A fire consumed a single-wide mobile home just off State Route 904 between Cheney and Four Lakes on Feb. 11, leaving a Spokane County Fire District 3 volunteer firefighter homeless in the process.

District 3 Division Chief Bill Dennstaedt said they received the call around 10 a.m. Monday, and were joined at the residence by units from Cheney and Medical Lake fire departments. The fire was well "established" when District 3 arrived, but due to some obstructions, Dennstaedt said they had a hard time trying to attack the blaze.

After the third attempt, crews "backed off" and took a more defensive position. The home was eventually destroyed.

Dennstaedt said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Most resources were at the residence until about 2 p.m., with one truck remaining in mop-up until 4 p.m.

Dennstaedt confirmed that the single-wide was the residence of a District 3 volunteer firefighter, who he declined to name. The District 3 volunteer organization has stepped up with some funding to provide temporary help right now.

Volunteers at Spokane County Fire District 10 signed a sympathy card in the firefighter's honor, giving him two of their challenge coins and a $250 prepaid Visa card. According to SFD10 volunteers, they will be meeting with him later this week to see how else they can help and what else his family might need in this difficult time.

Dennstaedt said Monday's fire was the fourth structure fire in the district so far this year. District 3 crews battled not only fire but wind and bone-chilling cold at a house fire on Spotted Road, Feb. 9, and also responded to fires at Clear Lake and near Spangle.

Those fires do not included recent fires in Cheney and Medical Lake.

"That's just us alone," Dennstaedt said.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].