Blaze guts home, but family safe
Fire destroyed a Coeur d’Alene rental home Monday morning, along with the belongings of the family who lived there.
Steve Tucker and his wife, Melanie, who is pregnant, did not have renter’s insurance, Coeur d’Alene Fire Inspector Glen Lauper said. A roofer, Tucker also lost all his tools and his work truck.
The two were inside the home at 2575 W. Timberlake Loop with their two young boys when the fire started, according to landlord Pat Benes. A passing Verizon worker spotted flames coming out of the eaves of the garage and knocked on the door to alert the family.
The four, still in pajamas, got out of the home safely.
The fire was reported just before 10 a.m., but Lauper said it likely had been burning for some time before the flames began showing.
The fire burned from the garage into the attic before spreading to the rest of the house. Vinyl siding melted off a neighboring home, but Lauper said that house sustained external damage only.
Two vehicles in the Tuckers’ driveway were engulfed in flames. Roofing material stored in the garage likely fueled the fire, Lauper said. Several small explosions were heard as flames consumed the garage and home.
Damage to the homes and vehicles was estimated at $270,000.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, but Lauper said it was not suspicious.
Fire crews arrived at the scene about eight minutes after they were called. The response was delayed because of construction closures on Ramsey Road and several rescue workers were still at the scene of a previous call in downtown Coeur d’Alene, he said.
“We went into defense mode,” Lauper said. “We’re not going to risk putting our guys in there for an unstoppable fire.”
Benes said the family had recently notified her company, North Idaho Rental, it was planning to move out July 1. They had bought a new home, she said.
Benes came to the scene to make sure the family was OK. “The house can be rebuilt, and the cars can be replaced,” she said.
Lauper said the American Red Cross is helping the family.