In brief: Second victim of trailer fire named

Fire officials Friday identified the second person who died in a fire early Wednesday.

Sharon Fischer, 70, died in the 4:44 a.m. fire at the Iron Wheel Mobile Home Park at 2002 S. Inland Empire Way, according to Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer. The fire was accidental and was caused by a cigarette. Ralph Skjothaug, 72, was also killed in the fire.

Two other fires that morning were caused by overheating or malfunctioning wiring, Schaeffer said. One occurred at 4:24 a.m. on 28th Avenue and the other nearly two hours later at 722 S. Jefferson St.

All residents escaped safely from those fires.

Chelsea Bannach

Officer who killed man identified

The Colville police officer who killed a 21-year-old man late last Saturday is an 11-year veteran, officials said Friday.

Officer Dan Spring remains on paid administrative leave after shooting Sean Joseph Bergstrasser, 21, multiple times while responding to a report of a vehicle prowling at Benny’s Colville Inn, 915 S. Main St., about 11:30 p.m.

Spring spoke with investigators Tuesday, but details of the interview have not been released. Trooper Troy Briggs, spokesman for Washington State Patrol, which is leading the investigation, said Friday he had no information on why Spring fired shots.

“It may be something that we release at a later date, but that part is still under investigation,” Briggs said.

Investigators found a stolen and loaded handgun in Bergstrasser’s motel room, where the shooting occurred, but Briggs said whether Bergstrasser was armed when he was shot is still being investigated.

Bergstrasser graduated from a high school in Wasco, Calif., in 2008 and moved to Washington last year.

Meghann M. Cuniff

YMCA director takes post in Pittsburgh

YMCA president Rig Riggins is leaving Spokane to take over the YMCA in Pittsburgh.

Riggins will leave the YMCA of the Inland Northwest Dec. 31 following a decade of leadership that included expansion of the nonprofit group best known for its fitness programs and community outreach.

The YMCA’s board of directors is conducting a search for a new leader.

Staff reports