Ritzville firefighters rescue resident from early morning structure fire

Two Ritzville Firefighters rescued a male victim from a burning residence on Thursday, Nov. 10. The Ritzville Fire Department responded to the call at 5:14 a.m. on Weber Avenue.

They were dispatched by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center for a report of a residential structure fire with a 63-year-old male victim trapped inside.

In a press release issued by Ritzville Fire Chief Bill Banner he stated the victim reported the fire and informed emergency dispatch he could not find a way out of the home before hanging up.

Nine members of the Ritzville Volunteer Fire Department responded with the Ritzville City Fire Department Ladder and a fire engine along with Adams County Fire Protection District No. 1 rescue vehicle and fire engine, reported Banner.

Two crewmembers in the ladder truck were the first on scene. Banner said they entered the home through the front door and were met with heavy smoke, which left them with zero visibility and intense heat conditions.

The crew immediately began to search for victims through the haze. They quickly found the male on the floor in the hallway with fire related injuries.

The ladder crew rescued the victim from the blaze and placed him in the care of the Emergency Medical Technicians of the Ritzville Volunteer Ambulance Association for treatment and transport to East Adams Rural Healthcare.

Banner stated the crew located the victim and removed him from the residence within 10 minutes of the initial call for service. The crew also rescued the victim’s German Shepherd dog from the residence.

After rescuing the victims, the crew re-entered the residence in search of additional victims and the location of the fire. Banner said the crew extinguished the flames, which were located at the east bedroom of the residence.

The bedroom suffered fire and water damage, and smoke and heat damage throughout the residence, Banner added. The crew responded in time for no structural damage to occur.

Due to the fact the fire started in the bedroom, the crew’s immediate response allowed the victim to escape the flames before his injuries became fatal.

Additional members of the Ritzville Fire Department assisted the ladder crew by establishing a water supply from a nearby hydrant, ventilating the residence and securing the gas service, Banner explained.

The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment where his condition remained critical at the time of the report. His dog is in good condition and is in the care of a friend of the victim.

Banner expressed his gratitude for the Ritzville Fire Department to the agencies who assisted in the call including the ACSO dispatch with radio and telephone communication, the Ritzville Fire Department with traffic control, the Ritzville Volunteer Ambulance Association with firefighter health monitoring prior to the victim’s transportation and Avista Utilities in securing the utility services to the home.

The victim continues to receive treatment and has been transported out of the critical care unit at Harborview. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.