Fire department trains, fights structure fires

Jana Mathia, Gazette Editor | May 28, 20200

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COLFAX – Colfax volunteer firefighters were called out to a structure fire on Morley Road May 20 less than 12 hours after structure fire training less than half a mile from the location.

At 5:03 a.m. May 20, fire crews from Fire District 11 and Colfax were dispatched to a structure fire on Morley Road. The single family dwelling was fully engulfed upon arrival. Water tender trucks from District 7 Rosalia, District 12 Pullman and District 4 Palouse responded to the scene to assist with water delivery to the rural area. About 40 firefighters were at the scene. The fire was contained within an hour and all crews back in station by 10:30 a.m.

The homeowners were out of town at the time of the fire. No injuries were sustained. The home is considered a total loss according to a Fire District 11 press release.

Pullman's Fire Investigator was also called to the scene for an initial investigation as well as an Avista utility crew and the chaplain from the Whitman County Sheriff's Office.

Fire District 11 includes Colfax, Diamond, Albion and Steptoe stations.

The evening before, May 19, Colfax Fire Department Volunteers were performing a live structure fire drill just north of the Palouse River Rock gravel pit. A garage with two large rooms set to be demolished was used for three rounds of interior "room and contents" fire training. Teams would enter the building where pallets and wood were piled to simulate a room with contents burning. According to Chief Craig Corbiell, the newer volunteers were able to experience reading smoke and flame, escape routes and feeling the heat of fighting this type of fire which is their most common scenario. Safety officers accompanied each round of training with different parts of the building being used for the different sessions.

The training lasted from 6 to 10 p.m. Corbiell estimated 90 percent of fire fighters who attended the training were also at the structure fire in the morning. The training and structure fire were four-tenths of a mile apart.

"It was so unusual to be that close," he said.