Fire Damages Apartment While Four Watch TV

Tue., Jan. 10, 1995

From Staff Reports

Fire damaged the second-floor bedroom of a north Spokane apartment unit Sunday while a baby sitter, unaware of the flames, watched television with three children downstairs.

Spokane Fire Department officials said crews arrived at N1414 Atlantic shortly after 8 p.m. As they pulled up, flames lapped out the second floor window into the eaves and roof area, Battalion Chief Joe Stapleton said.

The building, which is divided into four apartment units, was evacuated. No injuries were reported.

Stapleton said the baby sitter and all three children - ages 10, 7 and 4 - were unaware of the fire until a neighbor noticed the flames and pounded on the front door.

An electrical short in the television upstairs sparked the fire, which caught on the drapes and walls, he said.

Fire crews managed to confine the flames to the bedroom, but there was heavy smoke damage throughout the apartment.

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