Fire damages West Central home

A suspicious fire displaced two residents of a West Central Spokane home on Sunday. The neighborhood, which is north and west of downtown, has been plagued with arsons the last few years. Firefighters were called to 809 N. Cannon St., about 4:30 p.m. The fire started in a couch that recently was placed outside the home, said Spokane Fire Battalion Chief Bob Green. Flames quickly spread to the residence, which sustained heavy damage to the back of the house. Emily Brewster, a Spokane Community College student, said she and her fiancé, Joshua Porter, have rented the home since September 2007 and don’t have renter’s insurance. “I was doing my homework and he watching TV when some guy came and pounded on the windows” warning of the fire, Brewster said. “By the time we were out of the house, the police were here.” Brewster said they placed the couch outside two days ago in preparation for taking it to the dump. In a news release, Battalion Chief Craig Cornelius reported that the fire was knocked down in 15 minutes. Crews left the scene after about 90 minutes. From January through August 2007, the city reported 17 arsons in West Central, including four in one night. There were 14 arsons reported in the same period in 2006. Green said the fire appears suspicious, but the cause is under investigation. County records say the home, which was built in 1901, is owned by Tamara L. Lane and valued at $86,700. Damage is estimated at $20,000.