Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 25th
UPDATE: JUST IN from KHQ's Alex Rozier: Spokane Asst. Fire Chief says they are nearly certain fire on the lower South Hill was started by elec. problem in the attic.
PREVIOUS STORY:
SPOKANE, Wash. - Firefighters responded to a multi-alarm structure fire at an apartment complex in the 700 block of S. Lincoln Tuesday afternoon.
The building is a three-story apartment complex that started showing smoke around 4:00pm. When crews arrived on scene they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof of the building. Multiple engines, including from Spokane Valley, were called in to assist.
The complex is made up of 12, 2-bedroom apartments, with all of them being occupied. The owner of the apartments owns the Mirabeau Park Hotel and residents affected by the fire are being told they can stay there.
Emergency personnel closed secondary streets immediately surrounding the three-alarm fire at 7th Avenue and Lincoln Street on the lower South Hill.
Some vehicles have been towed to make room for emergency vehicles and personnel. If your vehicle has been towed, please call Crime Check at 456-2233 after 5 p.m. Tomorrow, vehicle owners should call 625-4100. Owners will need their VIN number or license plate number along with the make and model of the vehicle.
The fire destroyed the NW corner of the building, and by 6:30pm the flames were out. Smoke was still pouring from the building, and firefighters were on the roof looking for hot spots. They had a lot of rubble and debris to sort through, as the roof and walls were burned away on part of the building and collapsed. The owner of a neighboring financial services center told KHQ he was in a conference room meeting just after 4pm when he smelled the smoke inside their building. When he looked out the window, he saw huge flames and smoke pouring from the top of the apartment complex next door. Two women told KHQ they saw the smoke from as far away as the Garland district and came by to watch. With trees and power lines nearby, fire crews were lucky the fire didn't spread beyond the building.
