Pullman fire blamed on wiring

A fire that destroyed a five-unit apartment building in Pullman late Thursday seemed to have been caused by faulty electrical wiring, fire officials said.

The three occupants have found other living arrangements. At least one of them is a student at Washington State University, city spokesman Glenn Johnson said.

Fire investigator Rich Dragoo determined the fire started in the attic and spread rapidly through 140 S.E. Spring St., near downtown Pullman. Nobody was injured, and the vinyl siding on a neighboring building melted.

“We probably lost a couple of cats maybe,” Johnson said. “That thing went up so fast, I don’t think they had a shot.”

The building was operated by Helene’s Property Place LLC, Johnson said. It was totaled, and the estimated loss is $250,000.