Fire destroys Park Road house

The number of calls for emergency help from the Spokane Valley Fire Department over the last several days was down compared to last year, but a fire about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday destroyed a house near Park Road and Marietta.

“The crews worked real hard to knock the fire down,” said Valley Fire spokesman Bill Clifford. Firefighters put out the flames in five minutes, but not before the fire inflicted some $80,000 in damage.

“The house is a total loss,” Clifford said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

From July 18 through July 24, the department responded to 166 emergencies, down from about 200 during the same time last year, Clifford said.

Among them were 132 medical emergencies, 12 vehicle accidents, six fire alarms and three car fires. Other incidents included calls surrounding a fire cracker someone lit off Sunday at Ness Elementary.

“It was something pretty explosive,” said Clifford, who was startled by the blast at his home three miles away.

Despite the racket the explosion didn’t do any damage to the school, and no one was around when police and fire officials arrived, he said.

Finally, fire officials are urging people to be mindful of fire conditions this weekend, as several large events take place in the region.

Hot, dry conditions and the possibility of dry lightning likely will prevail this weekend, Clifford said, and fire officials are asking people to be careful with recreational fires and refrain from throwing cigarette butts out windows. Those caught will be fined.