Firefighters spent hours Wednesday night extinguishing one of the largest Spokane structure fires in years, successfully keeping the blaze from spreading to a 1,000 gallon gasoline tank and a gas station just a few feet away.

Spokane Fire responded to the fire at 101 North Madelia Street around 8:20 p.m. to find “heavy, dark smoke pouring from every window and door of the two-story commercial structure,” according to a news release from the department.

The building, believed to be vacant, belongs to Torino Sash & Glass, according to property records.

The fire, which escalated to three alarm response, had already advanced to the point where firefighters deemed an offensive attack would be ineffective.

Fire crews quickly pivoted to a defensive approach to keep the fire from spreading to

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