Suspicious fire burns old motel

Fire District 10 wanted to use what was left of the abandoned Skyline Motel for a controlled burn exercise. Friday night, firefighters got their drill earlier than expected.

Somebody apparently set fire to the remaining building of the troubled motel, located at 1724 W. Geiger, causing plumes of white smoke and flames that could be seen for blocks.

“This is a very suspicious-looking fire,” Chief Dick Gormley said. “It’s been vacant for quite some time.”

Fire crews checked the building but could not find anybody inside, he said.

A fire on Oct. 17 felled an entire section of the motel. That fire also was suspicious, Gormley said.

Mark Campbell, 40, was driving by on Interstate 90 Friday, returning home to Spokane after a trip to Sunnyside, Wash., when he spotted trouble at the Skyline.

“We saw the smoke and pulled off. Then we saw the fire and called 911,” Campbell said. “It was probably a couple transients trying to keep warm.”

Gormley said Campbell’s guess may not be far off. The motel that was once managed by Metropolitan Mortgage hasn’t been open for at least 18 months, he said.

“I’m not sure who the rightful owner is,” Gormley said. “It was sealed up but somebody kicked all the doors in. After the most recent fire, they came back and nailed all the doors shut.”

The Skyline has long attracted trouble, he said.

“Even though the previous owner tried hard to clean it up, nobody in the neighborhood is probably sorry to see it go,” Gormley said.