3 fires reported in Spokane area; 2 suspicious

Fire crews were busy overnight with three blazes in the Spokane County area, including a suspicious house fire in West Central and a suspicious shed fire in Spokane Valley. Crews contained the fire at a home at 2216 W. Mallon Ave., within an hour after responding about 7:33 a.m. The home was reported vacant, but later there were reports that transients may have been staying there, according to the fire department. Firefighters broke open much of the home to ensure no fire was concealed in the walls or ceiling, and the fire department described the fire damage as “considerable.” The blaze occurred after a fire damaged a home at 5555 S. Cheney Spokane Road because of a possible failing metal chimney system, according to the Spokane Fire Department. Crews were dispatched to the blaze at 11:56 p.m. Monday and arrived to find fire burning inside the walls and ceiling area around the fireplace. Residents evacuated the home safely. Backup crews walked up a 60-foot uphill, narrow and winding driveway to access the home because of limited room for fire trucks. The fire contained by “very aggressive” work inside the home by fire crews. Twenty-six firefighters responded to the blaze. Then early today, Spokane Valley firefighters quickly extinguished a shed fire at 806 N. Park Rd. Smoke could be seen for several miles. Broadway Avenue was blocked from Park Road to Ella Road for about an hour. Investigators say the fire appears suspicious. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233 or Spokane Valley fire at (509) 928-1700.