Suspicious fires rile Spokane homeowner

For the second time in a little more than a month, Spokane firefighters put out a fire at the same home in northeast Spokane.

The owner of the home, Jack Jepsen, believes the fires are the result of arson linked to a dispute with neighbors.

Firefighters were called to Jepsen’s home at 517 E. Liberty Ave. at 1:50 a.m. Tuesday.

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” said neighbor Jeff Miller. “There is too much surrounding it.”

Miller and Jepsen said squatters are inhabiting a nearby house at 503 E. Liberty Ave. On Monday, both Jepsen and Charles Knapp, another neighbor, said they called the police because they saw those residents stripping an ATV. According to Miller, when the police responded they found a stolen car, a stolen ATV and a rifle. Police spokeswoman Teresa Fuller confirmed that arrests were made at that address on Monday but a police report on the incident wasn’t immediately available.

Several hours after the arrests, Jepsen’s home was in flames. Crews reported heavy fire at one end of the house and on the second floor. Within an hour the 32 responding firefighters had the blaze under control.

Jepsen, his wife and three children were not in the house.

Brian Schaeffer, assistant fire chief of the Spokane Fire Department, said the fire is being investigated as possible arson. Investigators were at the scene all day Tuesday.

Jepsen said he believes the first fire at his home on May 4 was also arson. He said the people living at 503 E. Liberty were taking electricity from a neighboring house using an extension cord. Every morning, Jepsen would cut the cord as he left for work, he said.

“We were watching them,” Jepsen said. “I was constantly watching them. And then I started noticing them watching us.”

The problems started in November, Jepsen said. That’s when people moved into the formerly abandoned house and almost immediately people started coming and going at odd hours and trash started to accumulate. Knapp and Jepsen said they think it’s a drug house, citing the odd hours as well as suspicious-looking packages.

The residents of 503 E. Liberty, who wouldn’t give their names, deny starting the fires. Additionally they said they are paying rent, but wouldn’t disclose their landlord’s name. According to tax documents Marilyn F. Jones and Debra K. Hinkle, of Richland, own the property.

“We’re sick and tired of weirdos coming through our neighborhood at all hours of the night,” Jepsen said.

Jepsen said he complained to the city about the house and is angry that no action has been taken. Heather Trautman, Spokane’s director of neighborhood services and code enforcement, confirmed there is a pending complaint at that address opened on May 15 by the Spokane Police Department. Trautman said her office is trying to determine whether the residents there are paying rent and whether the case is something they would handle.

“We’ve been working on this for sure,” Trautman said. “But unfortunately it takes some time.”

Fuller said the police department still is sorting out ownership of the house.

“At this point we haven’t actually confirmed that they are squatters,” she said. “We kind of have to prove that they’re not.”

Miller, who has seven children, said he doesn’t feel safe in the neighborhood. Neighbors are so frustrated that they’re getting close to taking matters into their own hands, he said.

“It’s getting to that point, because the cops aren’t doing nothing,” he said.