Sunday’s fatal house fire in Spokane Valley caused by child playing with a heat source
Tue., Jan. 24, 2017
Sunday’s fatal house fire in Spokane Valley – which claimed the life of a 3-year-old girl and injured her mother – was caused by a child playing with a heat source, Spokane Valley Fire Department officials announced Tuesday.
The fire, which started just after 3 a.m., originated in the southwest corner bedroom of the basement, a fire department news release states. The basement was occupied by three young children. Two of them escaped, while the young girl did not.
Melanie Rose, Spokane Valley Fire Department spokeswoman, said investigators carefully examined and eliminated all potential causes of the fire with the exception of a child playing with a heat source.
The basement of the house located at 10410 E. Springfield Ave. sustained fire and heat damage, while the rest of the house was damaged by smoke. The home had working smoke detectors.
Two families with three adults and six children were living at the home at the time, though three of the children were away at a sleepover.
The Red Cross is providing emergency assistance to both families.
Friends of the family have set up a GoFundMe for the family, which has raised $520 by 4 p.m. Wednesday.
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