Fire in outbuilding investigated as suspicious

Investigators are calling a fire that damaged an outbuilding in Post Falls early Thursday suspicious in nature.

Upon arrival at 10937 W. Prairie Ave. shortly before 6 a.m., firefighters saw heavy smoke coming from the eves of 2,500-square-foot barn-type building, said Jim Lyon, a Kootenai County Fire & Rescue spokesman. A second alarm was issued and crews from Coeur d’Alene and Northern Lakes also responded.

No one was in the building at the time and there were no reported injuries, Lyon said. There is extensive fire, smoke and water damage to the floors and interior walls of the building, he said. The building was finished but had minimal furnishings and contents. The fire did little damage to the metal siding.

Crews are calling the fire’s origin suspicious and brought in an investigator from the state fire marshal’s office and an investigative canine team from the Spokane Valley Fire Department, Lyon said. The canine, Mako, is a Labrador trained for fire investigation and accelerant detection.

Kootenai County Fire & Rescue, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department and state fire marshal’s office are continuing the investigation.