Fires damage two apartment buildings, home

No one injured in morning fires

Brian Schaeffer, Assistant Fire Chief, 509.625.7002

Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 8:37 p.m.

The Spokane Fire Department is investigating fires that damaged an abandoned home and two apartment buildings this morning. No one was injured by any of the fires and all were quickly extinguished by firefighters.

A firefighter on his way to work noticed the fire at an abandoned home at 811 W. 13th just after 7 am. The house was boarded up and firefighters had to force their way into the home, but quickly got it under control. The cause is under investigation.

About two hours earlier, a malfunctioning wall heater sparked a fire on the second floor of the Ambassador Apartments, 1819 W. Pacific Avenue. An automatic alarm summoned firefighters and signaled occupants to evacuate the building. Firefighters extinguished the fire within 30 minutes and determined that the fire started when the heater malfunctioned.

Firefighters are also investigating the cause of a fire in the laundry room at the Father Bach Haven, 108 S State Street, about 2:45 am. Heavy smoke was coming from the third floor when firefighters arrived. The building sprinkler system was controlling the spread of the fire and all of the residents safely evacuated.