Peaceful Valley Fire Destroys Apartment

A 6-week-old puppy died in a fire Friday that destroyed an apartment west of downtown Spokane, authorities said.

The building was a garage that had been converted into a two-story apartment behind a house at W1637 Water Avenue. The fire broke out about 11:40 p.m., Battalion Chief Joe Stapleton said.

When crews arrived, flames were coming out of the doors, windows and roof of the building. While they were there, part of the chimney collapsed on the roof and tumbled through the first floor. Debris from the chimney also fell outside the apartment.

No one was injured.

Investigators believe a faulty wood stove caused the fire, Stapleton said. Except for the German shepherd puppy, the apartment was vacant at the time. Investigators are unsure who lived there.

It took more than three hours to put out the fire and clean up the debris.

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