Candle Apparent Source Of Fire That Burns Home
A fire that investigators say was sparked by an untended candle caused extensive damage to a Spokane Valley home last Saturday.
The home of Duane and Jo Peterson, S2707 Raymond, sustained about $50,000 worth of damage from the blaze, which began about 1:40 a.m.
The couple is staying at a motel, but probably will move temporarily into an apartment while their home is repaired, said Valley Fire inspector Paul Chase.
The fire damaged the windows, walls, doors and frame of the ranchstyle single-family home. Most of the family’s belongings sustained smoke and heat damage.
Winds spark fires, down power lines
Winds which peaked at 40 miles per hour downed two power lines and started at least one fire in the Valley last Saturday.
Homeowner Leroy Fautch had dumped some ashes from his pellet stove in a field near his home at N4021 Molter. High winds caused the ashes to ignite the grass just after noon, Valley firefighters said.
The fire burned two acres of grass, but caused no other damage.
About 1:30 p.m., a tree was blown down across a high voltage power line at Crestwood and Campbell. Crews from Inland Power and Light repaired the wire.
About 7:45 p.m., high winds downed a residential feeder power line that blocked the intersection of Sommer and Rich.
The line was knocked down by an awning that was torn away from a home at N4420 Sommer by the wind, Valley Fire reported. Washington Water Power crews repaired the line.
The average wind on Saturday reached about 26 mph, said meteorologists for the National Weather Service.
Man accused of shoplifting
A Valley man was arrested Monday night after being accused by a security guard of shoplifting.
Robert J. Collier, 18, of N907 Bowman, was charged with thirddegree theft.
Deputies were called to ShopKo, E13414 Sprague about 5:15 p.m., said sheriff’s Lt. Jack Morris. A security guard said he’d seen a man walk to the store’s game section, take a video cassette and put it down the front of his pants. The man then walked straight to the exit without paying, the guard told deputies.
Cab passenger makes dash
A Valley man was cited for thirddegree theft Monday after deputies said he tried to leave a cab without paying.
Mitchel Baraconi, 34, E5820 Fourth, didn’t want to pay the $26.65 cab fare, Lt. Morris said.
Cab driver Jeff Bruno of Inland Taxi had picked Baraconi up at the Phase II Tavern, E4824 Sprague, at 10:08 p.m., said Ed Degenstein, part owner of the cab company.
Bruno drove Baraconi to a mobile home park near the E5800 block of Fourth. When they arrived, Baraconi jumped out of the cab, hopped over a fence and ran, Bruno told deputies.
Bruno returned to the Phase II Tavern and got Baraconi’s address, Degenstein said. Then Bruno asked his dispatcher to call 911.
“If they don’t get the police involved, drivers have to pay for all runners,” Degenstein said.
Deputies found Baraconi in the mobile home park, and Bruno identified him. Baraconi told deputies he ran because he didn’t know the fare would be so high, Morris said.