Colfax, Washington – Three People Treated After Fire Destroys Coffee Shop on North Main Street

Colfax, Washington (March 17, 2020) – Three people were treated following a fire that broke out at the Fonks Coffeehouse building on Tuesday evening. According to an article from The Spokesman-Review, the building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, but two residents who were in a second-floor apartment were sent to the hospital for treatment. A firefighter was also treated, and all three patients have been released. Unfortunately, the building is considered a total loss following the incident.

The Colfax Fire Department received the report that the building was on fire around 7 p.m. Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming out of the building, and they were unable to enter the back of the building due to the heat. Crews were called in from the neighboring towns of Rosalia and Pullman, and crews were able to contain the fire within three hours. Neighboring buildings sustained heat, smoke and water damage in the incident. The affected building had a storage of clothes in the second floor, which was a factor in how quickly the fire went up, but the cause of the blaze is yet to be determined.

About Fire

It is fortunate that no one was injured in this particular case, and the firefighters are to be commended for their response. Like any other structure, commercial buildings must be checked for fire safety. Most if not all the steps in fire safety involve securing the area of one’s business or residence. It is also important to make sure that possible combustible materials are discarded properly or at the very least kept away from buildings. They also urge owners of buildings to review fire safety and make sure that an escape plan is formulated in case of fire.

Much like fire safety in other types of buildings, there are different factors which can add or detract the risk of a fire breaking out. The structure and materials that a building is made out of should be assessed for fire safety before construction. It is also advised that all buildings should be equipped with proper fire suppression tools and detection devices such as fire alarms and smoke alarms. Taking these simple steps should help prevent or lessen the risk of fire. Like with all accidents, the effects of fire are dreadful, including property damage and loss as well as injuries or even fatalities. Fire safety is then not only consideration for one’s self, but also consideration for others.

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