5-Year-Old Caused Peaceful Valley Fire

A 5-year-old girl playing with matches started the fire that destroyed a house in Spokane’s Peaceful Valley on Tuesday, an investigator said.

Neighbors reported seeing flames inside the vacant, two-story house at 1609 W. Clarke Ave. about 6 p.m.

The fire gutted the home and threatened another next door.

Lt. Michael Zambryski, Spokane Fire Department investigator, said neighborhood children were playing in the house just before the fire began. The residence had been vacant for about a month, Zambryski said.

The girl apparently found some matches inside the building and ignited the blaze.

No one was hurt. , DataTimes