Arson suspected in car lot fire

An office building, six cars and two motorcycles were damaged in a blaze early Wednesday not far from where a stabbing occurred two days earlier.

No injuries were reported in the fire at A & M Used Auto Sales at 2611 E. Sprague Ave. Some people staying in camper trailers nearby were moved while crews fought the fire, said Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer of the Spokane Fire Department.

The Spokane Valley Fire Department’s arson dog, Mako, indicated that accelerants were used, Schaeffer said.

“I know that he did alert and they took evidence from the scene,” he said.

Spokane police spokesman Ben Green said a stabbing was reported in the same block Monday afternoon, but investigators could not say Wednesday if the two incidents were related.

City spokesman Brian Coddington said the used car business hasn’t had a city business license since 2011. The most recent business records the city has showed the business was owned by Ainsworth and Madson Corp. of Buckley, Washington. State records show the corporation was based in Kent, Washington, and is inactive.

County property records say the property is owned by Airway Heights residents Ron and Joan Ahl.

No arrests were made in the stabbing. The victim received injuries not thought to be life-threatening, Green said.

Police responded to nine calls at the used car lot in July and seven calls in August, Green said. The types of calls were for everything from a disturbance to theft.

“Patrol has been aware that it is a highly active location,” Green said.