In brief: Family, animals displaced by fire

A family and several pets were displaced Wednesday after a fire started in their north Spokane home.

The Spokane Fire Department responded to 8617 N. Colton St. at 5:36 p.m. and quickly called for additional personnel, said Battalion Chief Clive Jones.

The fire started in the upstairs master bedroom of the two-story house.

No injuries were reported, but the home’s tenants were displaced, including two adults, two children, four dogs, several cats, a parakeet and a lizard, he said. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.

“The lizard we couldn’t find, but it wasn’t in the bedroom, so they’re still looking for it,” he said. “We believe that no animals were harmed,” Jones said.

The fire was contained to the bedroom, but there was smoke damage throughout the house. The damage is estimated to be about $25,000.

“It was not suspicious at all,” Jones said. “They’re investigating it as more than likely an electrical fire, but the investigation is not complete.”

IEA sues over bargaining law

BOISE – The Idaho Education Association filed a lawsuit in 4th District Court in Ada County on Wednesday challenging the constitutionality of SB 1108, which removes most collective bargaining rights from teachers.

The state teachers union and several co-plaintiffs charge that the measure, one of three major school reform bills passed this year, violates constitutional requirements by canceling vested contract rights for teachers, and by combining multiple subjects into a single bill. “The Legislature, Gov. (Butch) Otter and State Superintendent (Tom) Luna failed to listen to the voices of Idaho citizens and, in the case of SB 1108 … overstepped their legal bounds,” said Sherri Wood, IEA president.

Neither Otter nor Luna had any immediate comment.

Flaggers today at Division,Wellesley

Traffic on North Division Street at Wellesley Avenue is going to be slowed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today during work to upgrade the signal light there.

Flaggers will be used to direct traffic while the electrical contractor works on the light.

Right and left turns in all four directions are going to be blocked. Division will be reduced to two through lanes in each direction, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The work is part of a repaving project on Division from Euclid to Francis avenues as well as upgrades to turn channels and the installation of sidewalk wheelchair ramps at some intersections where they are lacking.