Morning fires strike two Spokane homes

Two fires struck homes in northwest Spokane early Wednesday, including one at a West Central house that was hit by arson just a month ago.

The family inside that home at 1907 W. Sharp Ave. made it out safely after two passers-by banged on the door about 3:30 a.m.

The fire scorched the back of the house and moved into the attic, causing significant damage. The family is being put up in a hotel by the Red Cross.

A red-and-white arson reward sign is still posted on the front of the house because of the Sept. 5 fire.

Firefighters determined the cause of this latest fire was electrical, not arson, said Spokane Fire Department Lt. Mike Giampietri.

Still, the family, which installed surveillance cameras after the first fire, isn’t taking any chances.

“We’re going to watch the tape,” said Virginia Kay.

Kay is getting married on Dec. 1. “Now my dress is gone,” she said.

A second fire shortly before 6 a.m. burned a single-car detached garage at 2126 W. Grace Ave.

“It took out the electrical lines so we had a lot of arcing and lines down in the alley,” Giampietri said.

Fire investigators determined that fire was caused by candles left burning in the garage overnight by a neighbor using it as a workspace.