Meth Ingredient Found At Fire Scene

Wed., Oct. 25, 2000

Debris samples taken from a fire that gutted an apartment building on West Boone Avenue in August tested positive for toluene, a solvent frequently used in methamphetamine production or high-quality paints.

Spokane Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze and say it may be tied to meth lab equipment that was thrown from an upper level window after it flared up.

“We have some questions about how a fire at 2:30 in the afternoon could get to such an accelerated stage,” Capt. Joel Fielder said.

The fire at 2008 W. Boone Ave. started in a narrow, 1-foot crawl space. About 17 people were left homeless when the apartment complex burned down.

Fielder said three people of interest who lived in the building have not made themselves available to investigators for questioning.

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