VIDEO: If it seems like there's been more fires than usual so far in 2024, new information from the Spokane Fire Department (SFD) backs that up.
"We've definitely seen an increase over the last year, and an increase over the year before," said Capt. Lee Venning with Spokane Fire's investigations unit. Data from SFD shows crews have responded to 67 structure fires between January 1 and May 29, 2024, up from 48 over the same time frame last year and 56 over the same time frame in 2022.
"It ebbs and flows," said SFD investigator Lt. Ed Miller. "This seems to be a faster year–we've had more fires in the first half of this year than we've had in a long time, especially fatality fires."
The numbers back that up. There have already been six people killed in fires in the City of Spokane alone this year, up from two last year and one in 2022 over the same time frame.