Dogs rescued from house fire at apparent marijuana grow

Spokane firefighters rescued three dogs from a house fire Monday morning at 55 West 30th Ave. The fire started in a back bedroom where the resident was growing plants that appeared to be marijuana, Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said. That address does not have a license to produce recreational marijuana from the Washington Liquor Control Board, though medical cannabis production does not require a license. Schaeffer said it was too early to tell what caused the fire. The resident was not home at the time of the fire, which was called in shortly after 9:30 a.m., but Schaeffer said he returned home later. “A very alert neighbor noticed smoke coming from the back of the house,” Schaeffer said. Firefighters from Station 11 responded and quickly brought the fire under control. Schaeffer said he didn’t yet have a damage estimate for the home.