Electrical Fire Forces Restaurant’s Temporary Closure

An early morning fire forced a downtown Spokane restaurant to close for repairs Sunday.

The fire at Rancho Chico, 128 W. Third, started about 5 a.m. in the building’s main electrical panel and was confined to a surrounding storage area, Battalion Chief Joe Stapleton said.

Damage is estimated at between $2,500 and $3,000, not including losses from spoiled food.

Live power lines fell from the building into an alley near the Thunderbird Hotel, and stretched between Brown and McClellan streets, Stapleton said. Washington Water Power Co. cut off power to the restaurant and removed the downed lines.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remained under investigation. , DataTimes