Pets die in Otis Orchards house fire

Three dogs and two pet birds died in a house fire in the 4900 block of North Powell Road Friday afternoon and a person inside the home was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. The Spokane Valley Fire Department responded to the Otis Orchards home at 1:45 p.m. Friday and found smoke pouring from doors and windows of the two-story home. Firefighters were able to rescue several dogs and a couple of birds, said Battalion Chief Rich Llewellyn, but not all the animals could be saved. One bird was still missing Friday evening. Crews were able to extinguish the flames within seven minutes, Llewellyn said. The resident was taken to the hospital for evaluation and didn’t appear seriously injured, he said. The Red Cross is assisting the resident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.