Fire roundup: Portable toilet fire ruled suspicious, officials say

A port-a-potty met a fiery end recently in Spokane Valley, and fire investigators believe it was intentionally set.

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews were called to a construction area in the 11600 block of East Rivercrest Drive just after 3 a.m. Jan. 18. The portable toilet happened to be sitting on top of an electrical box, which caused additional problems, said department spokeswoman Melanie Rose.

“We were trying to put the fire out but the fire kept burning because an underground electrical wire was on fire,” she said.

Investigators have ruled the fire as arson and the port-a-potty was destroyed.

“It was completely melted,” Rose said.

Other calls

from Jan. 11-24

Jan. 14: A burning mattress and other debris were reported behind a business in the 12000 block of East Trent Avenue. A mobile shredding truck caught on fire at 3808 N. Sullivan Road after a belt broke in a motor in the rear of the truck.

Jan. 16: A chimney fire was reported in a single-wide manufactured home in the 7100 block of East Sixth Avenue. The residents spotted the fire quickly and ripped the ceiling down, pouring water on the fire and putting it out.

Jan. 18: A chimney fire caused by a wood stove in an attached garage was reported in the 1600 block of South Glenn Road. Damage was limited to the area around the stove.

Jan. 21: A driver had to be extricated from a vehicle after a two-car accident at Broadway Avenue and Pines Road just after 1:30 p.m. The foot of the driver was also trapped and had to be freed.

Jan. 24: Firefighters had to cut the door off a car to free the driver after a two-car crash at Trent and Pines shortly after 8 p.m.

By the numbers: Firefighters responded to 531 calls from Jan. 11-24, including 434 calls for emergency medical services. Responses included 41 car crashes, a car leaking gasoline while driving down the freeway and two children locked inside vehicles.