Family displaced by Spokane apartment fire

A family of five was being helped by the American Red Cross Saturday after an early morning fire gutted their apartment unit on East Mission Avenue in Spokane.

The Red Cross was providing food and clothing to the family of two adults and three young children, said Pat Kondas, of the Red Cross.

The Spokane Fire Department responded about 3:30 a.m. Saturday to a report of a fire at the River Ridge Apartments, 1608 E. Mission Ave., according to a news release. Crews found heavy smoke and fire on the second floor of the two-story building and knocked down the fire in 20 minutes, the release said.

The second-floor unit housing the family was destroyed, and total damage to the building was estimated at $100,000. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Kondas said the family, which includes a 3-month-old baby, a 3-year-old and a 5-year- old, is staying in another apartment in the building.