July 4, 2009 in City

Fire razes property

Woman injured; officials believe son, 4, started blaze

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A Spokane firefighter from Station 15 squeezes through a second-floor window to gain position to spray hot spots on the home on Friday. The house was engulfed when firefighters arrived.
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A 4-year-old playing with a lighter probably started a fire Friday morning that seriously injured his mother and destroyed their east Spokane home, a fire official said.

The woman, Tawnia Embree, woke up in a bedroom and saw smoke and felt intense heat, said Assistant Chief Brian Schaeffer, of the Spokane Fire Department.

The 29-year-old told fire investigators that she called out to her son, who had fled the home. Embree suffered burns and smoke inhalation as she escaped, Schaeffer said.

Embree was in serious condition Friday evening at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Roberta Taufen, Embree’s sister, said her …

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