Arson fire damages vacant home

Fire officials believe arson is to blame for a fire that damaged a vacant northeast Spokane home Friday. The Spokane Fire Department was called to the vacant residence at 1404 E. North Ave., about 9 a.m. Friday, when neighbors noticed smoke coming from an open door. It took 24 firefighters about 15 minutes to locate and knock down the fire in the basement, and keep it from spreading to the upper levels of the two-story home. The blaze is believed to have been intentionally set, fire officials said. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the fire department’s arson tip line at (509) 344-FIRE (3473).