Pullman Islamic Center fire ruled accidental

Sun., Dec. 20, 2015

A fire Sunday afternoon at the Pullman Islamic Center started in the kitchen and was accidental, fire investigators said.

The fire was contained to the kitchen and caused about $35,000 in damage, the Pullman Fire Department said.

A caretaker at the center, at 1155 NE Stadium Way, reported smelling smoke and seeing flames from the kitchen shortly before 4 p.m. He told firefighters he had been cooking earlier.

Fire Marshal Rich Dragoo said that the fire was the result of a cooking pot left on the stove. The cooking oil overheated and ignited, Dragoo said.

Whitman County Fire District 12 also responded to the scene.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.