Police arrest suspect in brush fires

Spokane Valley firefighters caught an arson suspect Wednesday in a series of grass fires along the Centennial Trail.

Firefighters were on the lookout for a bicycle-riding man who’d been seen watching some of three previous fires.

When another fire was reported shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday, an arriving crew spotted a man matching the description, according to Deputy Fire Marshal Bill Clifford.

The crew summoned two fire investigators and a Spokane police officer. The investigators questioned the suspect, 20-year-old Spokane Valley resident Jacob R. Carle, and the police officer arrested him, Clifford said.

Clifford said another brush fire west of Pines Road near Mansfield Avenue on Monday was considered suspicious. It came about a week after a similar fire near a large water reservoir.

Monday’s fire was confined to a 10-foot circle, Clifford said.

In one of 22 vehicle accidents that sent three people to hospitals, a 15-year-old boy was injured Oct. 2 when he was hit while riding his bicycle near the intersection of Sprague Avenue and Park Road about 5:45 p.m.

Clifford said witnesses reported the boy was knocked unconscious, but firefighters found him conscious and confused. He suffered cuts and scrapes.

Otherwise, the seven days that ended Wednesday were fairly uneventful for the Spokane Valley Fire Department.

Clifford said there were 10 structure fires among 229 calls, but all were minor.

Thirteen alarm system calls proved false or minor.

The single hazardous-materials call involved a natural gas leak at the East Valley School District bus barn at 22300 E. Wellesley Ave. on Monday. When firefighters arrived, Clifford said, the building had been evacuated except for maintenance workers who were making repairs.

Clifford had no other information about the incident.

There were 178 calls for emergency medical service, but none for general services such as getting young children out of locked cars.