In brief: Man burned, cat dies in one of 2 house fires

Crews with the Spokane Fire Department stayed busy Saturday morning as they fought two house fires that started within a couple hours of each other, including one that badly burned a resident.

Firefighters first responded to a kitchen fire at 12:39 a.m. Saturday at 1107 W. Frederick Ave., caused by unattended cooking on the stove, according to a news release. The estimated loss is $10,000.

Less than two hours later firefighters responded to another fire, in which a man suffered second- and third-degree burns on his hands and one arm.

When crews arrived at his wood-framed house at 1703 E. 40th Ave. at 2:23 a.m., they saw heavy smoke pouring from the home’s front door, according to a news release. The 45-year-old resident, who met firefighters outside, was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center for his burns. A cat died in the fire, which damaged the rear bedroom and the bedroom’s contents. The estimated loss is $10,000.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Chelsea Bannach

Rogers, North Pines make list for grants

Two area schools are eligible for money under a federal school improvement grant program.

Rogers High School in Spokane and North Pines Middle School in Spokane Valley are two of 50 eligible Washington schools. The state released its annual list of eligible schools Thursday. The schools are known federally as “persistently low-achieving schools.”

The grants range from $50,000 to $2 million annually for three years. The Department of Education will give Washington about $7.3 million for the grants this year.

The schools were ranked based on several factors, such as reading and math scores from 2008-’10 and graduation rates.

Rogers is eligible due to its graduation rate, while North Pines’ achievement level makes it qualify.

Staff report