Police, fire officials investigate ‘spree arson’ behind CdA store

COEUR d’ALENE – Police and fire investigators are examining four apparent arson fires set in quick succession early Monday morning behind a home-improvement store.

The fires caused an estimated $10,000 damage to material stored outside.

“We are calling this a spree arson, where three or more fires are set at once,” Glenn Lauper, fire investigator for the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, said Tuesday.

The fires were reported at 1:30 a.m. Monday behind Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, 901 Appleway Ave., Lauper said.

Three of the fires were set in a nearby stand of trees, the fourth ignited a pallet of PVC pipe.

The fire department is working with Coeur d’Alene Police detective Todd Hedge to review surveillance tapes and other evidence.