PULLMAN – The Pullman Fire Department battled a large fire in a single-family home at 425 NW Darrow St. Friday afternoon. Fire damage was primarily limited to the second floor of the home.

Firefighters received the 911 call just after 4 p.m. reporting smoke coming from the building. When they arrived and saw smoke pouring from the broken second-floor windows, they immediately called a second alarm for additional personnel. Asst. Chief Ryan Scharnhorst said Pullman crews were able to attack the fire from the rear of the building through the windows, and additional crews were able to tackle the fire from the front of the building.

Firefighters from Whitman County Rural District 12 responded to the second alarm but were diverted to handle other calls in town, including a fire alarm near the WSU campus and a medical emergency call.

Scharnhorst estimated that 40 percent of the building was damaged by the fire. The fire affected the upper floor, including the kitchen, living room and bedrooms, but noted that there was additional water damage on the lower floor. A city building inspector was on site and said the home was unoccupied. Pullman police officers contacted the building’s owner, who was out of town, and learned that the owner would be returning to Pullman on Saturday, August 10. Officials said he was the building’s only occupant.

Pat Fitzgerald, an off-duty Pullman firefighter trained in fire investigation, was called to help determine the cause of the fire. Damage estimates are pending.