Flames destroy family’s ‘dream house’

A “showcase” home in southeast Spokane burned down in a dramatic fire Sunday afternoon that drew several agencies to fight it and dozens of onlookers.

No one was injured, although the homeowners may have lost two cats in the fire that destroyed the two-story brick and frame-built home on South Ashton Circle.

Homeowner Denise Kestell said she was in the second-story turret when her son, 18-year-old Monte Kestell, and his girlfriend discovered the fire in the basement. Other family members, husband Jack Kestell and two other children, were not home at the time.

“They opened the basement door to go downstairs,” a shook-up Denise Kestell said while standing in the street as flames licked what was left of the roof behind her. “Monte ran down the stairs and saw flames.”

The three people in the house escaped, as well as a cat and a year-old Rottweiler that was in the garage.

A fire alarm system initially alerted the Spokane County Fire District 8 at 2:50 p.m., according to Chief Bill Walkup. One truck was dispatched, but four minutes later the response was upgraded after Kestell called 911. Two minutes later, the first crew arrived on scene and ultimately 28 firefighters from three agencies – Spokane city, Spokane Valley and District 8 – fought the fire that threatened a neighboring home and sent a giant plume of smoke over south Spokane.

The smoke drew neighbors from all around – kids on skateboards, families on bicycles and even fathers carrying their toddlers on their shoulders. At 3:31 p.m., the fire department changed its approach from an offensive attack to a defensive stance, because of the danger to firefighters, Walkup said.

“This is the typical outcome when it has the head-start this one had,” Walkup said as smoke billowed from the partially standing home behind him.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and Kestell said she had no idea how it started.

The Kestells, who own a real estate company, were comforted by family as they watched fire destroy their home. Denise Kestell’s sister, Debra Hayes, offered to take in the dog because she has a fenced yard.

“It was showcase decorated,” Hayes said of her sister’s home. “It was their dream house.”

Coincidentally, Hayes lost her home to an electrical fire three years ago.

“I know what this loss feels like,” she said.