Family pets die in Spokane Valley house fire

Two cats and a hamster died in a fire that destroyed half of a duplex in Spokane Valley Friday.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department was called to 120 N. Bannen Road shortly after 1 p.m. Friday. A resident had been in the backyard and discovered that the house was on fire when she tried to go back inside, according to a fire department news release.

Flames were coming out a side door when crews arrived. The fire started in the kitchen and was determined to have been caused by an electrical issue. The resident was not injured, but the family pets died in the fire. One half of the duplex is a total loss.

A Spokane County Fire District 8 crew assisted with the fire.