Family Flees Basement Fire

A basement fire chased a Spokane Valley family from its home late Tuesday. Firefighters managed to put the fire out before it spread to the main floor of Rosanne Taylor’s ranch-style house at 4607 N. Evergreen. No one was injured.

Taylor, her three children - ages 11, 7 and 7 months - and a family friend were in the house when the fire started.

They noticed light smoke coming from around a door leading to the basement at about 10:10 p.m. and went to investigate, said Eric Olson, Valley Fire deputy fire marshal.

The family called firefighters when the smoke “started getting heavier and blacker,” said Olson, who investigated the blaze.

The fire started around the home’s gas heater, Olson said. Boxes and other items were either stacked too close or fell on the heater, he said.

Flames spread to the furnace and destroyed a water heater. Damage was estimated at about $5,000.

“It was relatively minor,” Olson said. “It was caught pretty early.”

, DataTimes