Man Seen Before Fire Sought

Fire investigators are seeking a man seen inside the El Toreador Restaurant minutes before the building caught fire.

An eyewitness saw the man inside the building about 6:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, five minutes before fire crews arrived to battle the blaze, said Spokane Fire Capt. Joel Fielder.

The man is described as 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, wearing a gray or dirty white ski jacket and dark pants. He was seen later on surveillance video at Sterling Savings Bank.

Investigators say the fire, which destroyed the uninsured building, was human caused. No fire-starting chemicals were found, Fielder said.

“It very easily could have been a transient trying to stay warm, and somehow gets a fire going inside,” he said.