Fire engulfs South Hill apartment building

Flames engulfed an apartment complex near Deaconess Hospital this afternoon, forcing the building’s evacuation and snarling Spokane’s evening commute. No injuries were reported in the 4 p.m. blaze at 12-unit complex located at 725 S. Lincoln, but firefighters struggled to get an upper hand as flames shot more than 25 feet through the roof. The building is located on a steep slope, which made the firefighting approach more difficult. “The biggest thing was the head start of the fire in the attic,” said Spokane Fire Chief Bobby Williams. The west end of the building is heavily damaged and arrangements were being made to find alternative accommodations for residents. Sarah Kriehn, 27, a resident of the building, said today she noticed lots of smoke pouring from the west end of the building and immediately began knocking on doors to alert residents. The fire briefly snarled traffic on Monroe and Lincoln streets, and secondary streets surrounding the three-alarm blaze are closed. Some vehicles have been towed to make room for fire trucks. Pets are not allowed in the building, so no pets are thought to have died in the fire. Fifty to 75 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. The Spokane Valley Fire Department assisted.