South Hill Fire Leaves Man in Critical Condition, Cause Under Probe

I can’t get over how quickly life can flip in just a few minutes. On Monday morning, a quiet stretch of South Hill turned into chaos when flames ripped through a duplex on Sherman Avenue.

Firefighters got the call at 10:39 a.m. and, to their credit, they were on scene in about four minutes. By then, smoke was already pushing out of the home and fire had climbed from the first floor up into the second story and attic.

Inside, crews pulled out an unconscious man from the ground floor. He was rushed to Providence Sacred Heart, only a few blocks away, but his condition is critical. As of now, both units of the duplex are unlivable — families who called that place home lost nearly everything in under half an hour.

You can picture the scene: the sirens, the scorched front of the house, neighbors watching helplessly. It’s the kind of moment that stays with you, whether you live on that block or just read about it the next day.

Timeline of the Fire & Response

What struck me most about this fire was how fast everything unfolded. According to The Spokesman-Review, the call came in at 10:39 a.m., and Spokane firefighters reached the house within just four minutes.

But by then, flames had already climbed from the ground floor into the second story and attic. Think about that for a second — in less time than it takes you to make a cup of coffee, an entire home was filling with smoke and fire.

Crews fought hard and had the blaze under control in about 20 minutes, but the damage was overwhelming. Both homes in the duplex were left uninhabitable. Families who thought they’d return home that night instead stood outside, watching everything they owned turn to ash.

Inside the Rescue — A Life on the Line

Here’s the part that stays with me — an unconscious man trapped on the ground floor. Firefighters found him, pulled him out through a window, and rushed him straight to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

FireRescue1 reported that he was in critical condition. Imagine the chaos inside that house: thick smoke, scorching heat, and firefighters trying to save someone’s life in seconds. That urgency is the difference between life and death in these situations.

When you hear “critical condition,” it’s not just a line in a report. It’s someone’s father, brother, or friend lying in a hospital bed, and a family waiting for news they may not want to hear.

Witness Perspective — The Explosion and Flames

If you’ve ever heard a neighbor describe a disaster, you know how raw those moments sound. One neighbor, Ogorinac Szamreta, said the first thing that caught her attention was an “extremely loud explosion.”

She ran out and saw flames shooting into the sky. Her words — “Oh, my goodness. So many flames shooting up in the sky” — paint a picture no camera can truly capture.

I put myself in her shoes, and maybe you do too. Imagine standing just a few doors down, hearing that blast, and realizing it’s not a car backfiring — it’s someone’s home burning to the ground.

Neighbors in Spokane aren’t the only ones to describe seeing massive flames — during the Nashua house fire, residents also spoke about how quickly fire swallowed the building.

Cause of Fire — What We Know So Far

Right now, investigators haven’t pinned down an exact cause. Spokane Fire Department spokesman Justin De Ruyter told that the cause is still under review.

Here’s what we do know: house fires like this often tie back to everyday mistakes — overloaded outlets, old wiring, or unsafe appliance setups. Just last month, another South Hill fire was traced to a window AC unit plugged into a power strip.

And that’s where you and I need to pay attention. If you’re using extension cords for heavy appliances, you’re running the same risk. It only takes one spark to set off a chain of events like the one on Sherman Avenue.

n fact, we’ve seen vacant homes catch fire in similar ways, like the vacant house fire in Luzerne County, where faulty wiring and neglect played a major role.

Wider Impact on Residents

Sometimes the headlines focus only on the victim, but there’s a ripple effect here. Both sides of the duplex were destroyed, leaving multiple residents without a place to live.

Think about walking away from your home with nothing but the clothes on your back. No photos, no furniture, no safe bed to return to that night. That’s the reality for the families who lived in that duplex.

And if you’re part of this community, their loss is also yours. Fires don’t just erase buildings — they shake neighborhoods, friendships, and the feeling of safety we all take for granted.

If you’ve lived through something like this — or seen a fire shake your community — I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Sometimes sharing makes us all a little stronger.

Fire Safety Lessons for Every Household

Here’s the part that matters most for you and me — what can we actually learn from this?

First, never plug heavy appliances like air conditioners or space heaters into power strips or extension cords. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says extension cords cause about 3,300 home fires every year in the U.S.. That’s not a small number — it’s thousands of families facing the same nightmare.

Second, test your smoke alarms regularly. In April, another South Hill fire killed a woman and two dogs. Alarms were present in the home but weren’t working. A silent alarm is as dangerous as no alarm at all.

And finally, have an escape plan. If this fire shows anything, it’s how quickly flames spread. Make sure everyone in your house knows two ways out and where to meet outside. Seconds matter.

I keep coming across small but life-saving safety reminders every week. Many of them are shared instantly through local safety update channels on WhatsApp — worth joining if you want those quick nudges right on your phone.

South Hill’s Fire History — A Pattern We Can’t Ignore

This wasn’t the first fire to devastate South Hill this year. Back in April, we saw a deadly blaze that reminded everyone of how fragile safety can be. Now, just months later, another family is facing tragedy on the same hillside.

When you start connecting these dots, it’s not just bad luck — it’s a wake-up call for the entire community. South Hill homes, like many older neighborhoods, face higher risks from electrical setups, outdated wiring, and sometimes plain neglect of safety habits.

If you live here, or even in a similar area, you’ve got to treat these fires as warnings, not just news stories.

I’ve read about similar heartbreak in other cities too — like the East Toledo home fire, where families walked away with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Community Resources

The good news is you’re not alone in preventing the next tragedy. Spokane Fire Department has a home safety checklist on their site — use it. The Red Cross also steps in to help families displaced by fires, and they accept donations if you want to make a difference.

Here’s what you can do today:

• Test your smoke alarms this week.
• Walk through your home and unplug any heavy appliance from a power strip.
• Talk to your family about an escape plan.

And if you’re unsure about your wiring or electrical safety, call a licensed electrician. Spending a little today could save your home — or your life — tomorrow.

Final Word — Protect Your Home Before It’s Too Late

When I think about the man in the hospital and the families now homeless, it’s heartbreaking. A fire doesn’t just take walls and furniture — it takes memories, security, and sometimes lives.

You and I can’t stop every fire, but we can lower the risk in our own homes. Check your outlets. Test your alarms. Share this story with someone you care about, because it might push them to act before it’s too late.

What about you — when was the last time you tested your smoke alarm or checked your wiring? If your answer is “I don’t remember,” maybe today’s the day to start.

For more updates on recent house fires and safety takeaways, you can always check our home incidents section.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. For electrical or fire safety concerns, consult a licensed electrician or your local fire department. Always follow official safety guidelines to protect yourself and your family.