Multi-Agency Controlled Live Fire Training June 15

NEWPORT, WA – On Saturday June 15th at approximately 10:00 a.m. South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue will conduct a controlled live fire burn training exercise at 200 N. Scott Avenue in cooperation with Newport Hospital and Health Services (NHHS).

Scott Avenue between Spruce Street and 1st Street will be closed to through traffic. Additionally, Pine Street will be closed between North Scott Avenue and North Warren Avenue. The public is asked to avoid the area unless they are seeking medical services at the hospital. Patients accessing the emergency room should enter along North Cass Avenue through the upper parking lot. Newport Health Center will be open for regular Saturday hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Residents in the area can expect potential heavy smoke from the burn. The Ponderosa Room inside NHHS’s Annex Building (entrance located on the corner of Spruce and Scott) will be open for anyone who would like to avoid the smoke.

Since plans included tearing down the house for additional parking, hospital administration decided that donating the live fire opportunity would provide invaluable training for local firefighters. SPOFR Chief Dan Williams said, “we appreciate NHHS making this building available for us to provide invaluable controlled live fire burn training for Pend Oreille and neighboring Fire Districts.”

On Wednesday, June 5th, Chief Dan Williams and a representative from Spokane Fire District 4 inspected the house for possible hazards. On Thursday, June 6th SPOFR Lieutenant Corey Toombs conducted Search and Rescue Rapid Intervention training (RIT) at the site. Pre-work for the controlled live fire burn included removing working appliances and carpet, asbestos abatement, and acquisition of a burn permit from the Washington State Department of Ecology. In addition, Life Flight has been notified of an alternate landing zone option to avoid complications with patient transport from the Newport Community Hospital helipad.

For updated information, please visit https://newporthospitalandhealth.org/event/controlled-live-fire-training/ or https://www.spofr.org/. SPOFR can be reached at the Diamond Lake Fire Station (509) 447-5305.

About Newport Hospital and Health Services
Newport Hospital and Health Services is owned and operated by Pend Oreille County Public Hospital District #1 and was originally established in 1921. Located in Newport, WA, the District is dedicated to serving the community with integrity and exceptional quality care. Newport Hospital and Health Services employs providers to cover health needs for primary care, walk-in clinic care, women’s health and pregnancy services, obstetrics, emergency services, anesthesia, behavioral health, wound care, and surgery (general, orthopedic, podiatry, and gynecology). NHHS owns and operates Seeber’s Pharmacy in Newport, WA. NHHS offers visiting specialty clinics and outpatient services including full-service diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pathology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathology. NHHS also offers same-day surgical services and has a fully staffed medical acute care unit. A complete list of services is available at www.newporthospitalandhealth.org.

About South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue
South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue was created by voter approved mergers of Pend Oreille Fire District No. 3, Pend Oreille Fire District No. 1, and Pend Oreille Fire District No. 7 in 2010; the merger with Fire District No. 6 in 2019; and the merger with Pend Oreille District No. 8 in 2022. The area now includes the Diamond and Sacheen Lake areas, the Camden, Fertile Valley and Deer Valley areas, Furport, Bead Lake, and Skookum areas, along with the Spring Valley area. The mergers have been an effective addition to the service of the community and they offer a higher level of service than we have experienced in the recent past.

This includes our receiving two new ambulances in February, hiring three qualified firefighters/EMT’s, being awarded a state ALS (Advanced Life Support) transport license and an increase of 34.8% in call volume for our first quarter of this year. With this in mind, contact the SPOFR website at www.spofr.org to become a needed and appreciated SPOFR volunteer.