Spokane: Fire at WSDOT Camp
Washingtoner/10211950

~ Early this morning, at approximately 12am, Spokane Police Department officers responded to a major explosion and fire at the WSDOT Camp located at the corner of East 2nd Avenue and South Ralph Street. Upon arriving on scene, officers observed a tent fully engulfed in flames and propane tanks shooting up into the sky. Flames and smoke could be seen from miles away and the explosion could be heard throughout the city.

Two people were in the tent at the time of the explosion, a female who suffered significant burns and a male who also suffered numerous burns. Both were transported to an area hospital for treatment. The Spokane Fire Department arrived shortly after and quickly extinguished the fire.

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According to Fire Investigators, the cause of the fire was human caused, accidental. It is believed that leaking propane from transfilling propane tanks in the tent filled it with gas which caused an explosion and subsequent fire. Firefighters remained on scene after extinguishing the fire to deal with multiple propane tanks that were still releasing propane.

Police and Fire personnel noted that this incident could have been far worse as all residents of the camp were placed in danger due to multiple propane tanks on site. Julie Humphreys, Communications Manager for SPD stated "This was an extremely dangerous situation".

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