Residents escape fire, but dogs killed
A fire in the basement of a North Side home Saturday night left seven adults and an infant homeless, killed a mother dog and forced euthanization of her six 2-week-old puppies.
The Spokane Fire Department was called to 2122 W. Sharp Ave. about 8:20 p.m. Firefighters found smoke and flames showing from the front and back doors, said battalion chief Bruce Moline.
The residents and the six puppies were able to escape, but the female pit bull could not be rescued.
The puppies were treated by firefighters for smoke inhalation and turned over to SpokAnimal C.A.R.E., where they were later euthanized.
“They still needed a nurse for another two to three weeks, so it’s a very, very sad deal,” said animal control officer Hope Merkison.
The fire was contained in the basement, where firefighters believe it started. The blaze is under investigation.
Spokane County
Rolled pickup closes road
Dennison-Chattaroy Road was closed for more than three hours Sunday afternoon after a Spokane Valley man rolled his pickup truck.
John F. Sharp, 14403 E. Sharp, was driving on Dennison-Chattaroy Road near Amy Road around 4:50 p.m. when he reached for a cellular phone and drifted onto the shoulder, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan said in a news release.
The 2001 Dodge pickup went down a hill and through a fence, then rolled once, ending up on its roof, Reagan said.
Traffic Cpl. Ken Salas said Sharp, 40, was folded inside the pickup’s crushed cab. Sharp was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he was in satisfactory condition late Sunday, a nursing supervisor said.
The truck was a total loss, Salas said.
Sharp was alone at the time of the crash and was wearing a seat belt, Salas said.
Lewiston
UI students plan arboretum
Twenty-two acres remaining after the construction of Bryden Canyon Road could soon be turned into an arboretum in a joint effort by the city and the University of Idaho.
Lewiston owns the land, which is home to native plants and invasive species, wildlife and a creek that runs through an old landfill.
Angela Vanhoozer, a UI graduate student working on the arboretum design, said that once finished, the landscaping should be both aesthetically pleasing and reflect the way people use their resources.
Several UI sophomores have created potential designs for the land, and their proposals will be on display to the community this week.
Once a design is chosen, John Lloyd, director of the school’s Urban Landscape Ecology Lab, will help the students do the work of an urban forester in creating the arboretum.