I-90 blazes under investigation

Spokane Valley Fire is investigating six small fires set along Interstate 90 last week.

The numerous grass fires were ignited within a half-mile stretch on the east side of the highway on Friday about two miles from Liberty Lake, said Fire Marshal Kevin Miller.

Due to the fact that the fires are all separate they are considered suspicious, Miller said. It appears that burning objects were thrown from a passing vehicle traveling along the freeway.

There were no other fires reported along I-90 into Idaho.

The odd fires set along the freeway are among 12 blazes firefighters responded to between June 20 and 26, said spokesman Bill Clifford.

Also last Friday, firefighters went out to 8215 E. Glass Ave. on a blaze started by a barbecue on a back deck, Miller said. The fire spread into the home’s attic. The estimated damage was about $30,000.

On Monday, firefighters responded to another barbecue-related fire, Clifford said. The fittings on a barbecue’s propane tank were loose and caught fire.

Fire officials asked that residents keep barbecues from anything that may catch on fire, and check the propane tanks on barbecues before using them.

Valley firefighters responded to a total of 212 calls during the recent seven-day period, 156 of those responses were for emergency medical situations, Clifford said. None of the medical calls were related to heat.

Fire crews responded to 23 vehicle crashes during the seven-day period, Clifford said. One was a hit and run involving motorcyclist and another was a pedestrian hit by a car. The motorcyclist and the pedestrian were taken to area hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.