In brief: North Side fires may both be arson
Investigators are looking for a connection between two Spokane fires that occurred on the same block within 24 hours, and they said at least one of them was intentionally set.
A two-story wood-frame home at 3013 N. Lee St. caught fire Tuesday around 5:30 a.m. Though neighbors told firefighters the home was vacant, a man was found to be living there.
Assistant fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the man was forced to break out a second-floor window and jump to the ground.
He was taken to a hospital for several cuts and smoke inhalation.
Another fire occurred on the same block on Monday. Schaeffer said the house was supposed to be vacant, but firefighters found evidence a homeless person had been living there.
He said both fires were started by people, and the one Tuesday is a suspected arson.
Firefighters were able to confine the fire to the main floor, but the home suffered heat and smoke damage throughout, a news release said.
Two fall from rocks in Spokane Valley
Two people fell from rocks in the Mirabeau Parkway area and needed rescue by Spokane Valley firefighters.
A 19-year-old woman fell about 20 feet from rocks near the old Walk in the Wild Zoo behind the Valley YMCA and was seriously injured.
As a friend tried to reach her, he fell and was injured. He was able to call for help on his cellphone.
Rescuers found the two and took them to a hospital.
Man, 29, arrested for Valley graffiti
A 29-year-old man said he was trying to cover “inappropriate pictures” in Spokane Valley when he was arrested for graffiti near the Centennial Trail.
Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy Jeffry Rogers responded to a report of two people spray painting under the bridge at Barker Road and the Centennial Trail.
Rogers found Craig Link and another male walking away from the bridge. Link admitted to spray painting over images under the bridge.
Rogers said he found four spray tips in Link’s back pocket and two additional spray cans inside a bag on the ground, according to the release. Link said there were additional spray cans nearby. Link was cited and released for third-degree malicious mischief.
Link said he’ll come back later to paint gray paint over his artwork, according to the news release.