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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Valley fire roundup: Car set on fire was involved in police chase

Responding to a car fire isn’t unusual for the Spokane Valley Fire Department, but having a car deliberately set on fire during a police chase is.

Crews were called to the 9400 block of East Trent shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 to find a four-door sedan fully aflame. A witness told crews that they saw a man dump gas from a gas can on the car before he ran away, said department spokeswoman Melanie Rose.

The two people inside the car had apparently been fleeing from police and ran away on foot after setting the car on fire, Rose said.

“We were busy putting the fire out while all this was going on,” she said.

Other calls from Sept. 19 to Oct. 2

Sept. 24: A small “sharps” container that held used needles was found in a parking lot in the 14000 block of East Sprague. The container was removed and disposed of.

Sept. 27: A small attic fire was reported in a garage at 14606 E. Longfellow Ave. The homeowner tried to put it out himself with a garden hose and suffered smoke inhalation. A neighbor called 911. The cause was determined to be electrical. A garbage truck’s load caught on fire in the 6400 block of East Broadway just before 10:30 a.m. The load was dumped and doused with water.

Sept. 29: A slow moving grass fire was reported in the 5200 block of North McKinzie Road around 5 p.m. The fire appeared to be intentionally set and four children were seen in the area.

Sept 30: Cigarette ash started a fire on an outdoor chair cushion in the 11000 block of East Boone Avenue. A 74-year-old man was hit by a car while crossing the street at 15500 E. Sprague Avenue. He had leg and head injuries but was conscious when crews arrived.

Oct. 2: A yard waste fire was reported in the 400 block of South Koren Road. Trash and yard waste fires are illegal year-round.

By the numbers: Crews responded to 652 calls in the two weeks from Sept. 19 to Oct. 2, including 521 calls for emergency medical services. Other responses included 60 car crashes, a smoldering campfire and two cases of small children accidentally locked inside cars.