Regional news

Two girls escape burning apartment in south Spokane

Two girls escaped a burning apartment in south Spokane Friday afternoon.

The fire started about 3 p.m. at an apartment unit at 2727 E. 3rd Ave., said Dan Blystone, acting chief of Spokane County Fire District 8. It was contained mostly to one unit, which suffered extensive smoke damage, Blystone said.

Amanda Christianson, who lives downstairs, said she ran to the apartment after she saw black smoke coming from the dryer vent. She heard smoke alarms and the girls screaming.

One girl left the apartment and Christianson said she helped the other get out. Both were pre-teens, she said.

“They were making a grilled-cheese sandwich,” Christianson said. “It started a fire and they tried to put a towel on it.”

Westbound I-90 closure tonight

Westbound Interstate 90 will be closed tonight on the Sunset Hill.

Crews will be removing a sign structure that crosses all four westbound lanes, and drivers should expect delays.

Starting at 10 p.m. and continuing until about 4 a.m. Sunday, westbound I-90 traffic will be detoured off the freeway and onto the old Sunset Highway from the Maple Street off-ramp to the Geiger Boulevard interchange near the Spokane International Airport. Also, the westbound freeway on-ramps will be closed at Maple, Monroe and Jefferson streets.

The westbound on-ramp between Highway 195 and I-90 will also be closed.