Vacant house fire leads to arrest

Michele Anderson, Public Safety Communications Manager

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 3:14 p.m.

Investigators with the Spokane Fire Department’s Special Investigation Unit confirm this morning’s vacant house fire on W. Crown Ave. was started by a warming fire.

Just before 8 a.m.., the Spokane Fire Department responded to the 4000 block of W. Crown Ave. after witnesses reported dark smoke billowing from the top floor of a vacant home. Reports indicated a man was seen exiting the structure and wiping his hands in the snow.

Spokane Police were the first to arrive on scene and were able to located and arrest the male who was found to be occupying the structure illegally.

Upon arrival fire crews reported visible smoke from a second floor window and made immediate entry. Firefighters worked to quickly extinguish a fire located in a closet on the second floor and successfully prevented it from spreading further. The structure was searched for additional occupants as crews extinguished the fire.

Firefighters determined that the arrested male was the only occupant. He was treated for treated for smoke inhalation and burning eyes. There were no reported injuries to firefighters.

The fire caused moderate damage to the second floor of the home and some light smoke damage.