Chimney possibly sparks garage fire in northeast Spokane

Firefighters responded to a single-story garage fire at 3704 Fairview Ave., on Friday evening, possibly sparked by a chimney.

At about 4:30 p.m., resident Tracey Reisdorph reported the fire. It started in a disconnected two-car garage on the property. She said that a chimney, which was lit, inside the garage may have caused the fire, and at one point, a “pop” from a gas can ignited.

A smoke plume rose into the air, visible to people from miles away.

Yards away from the fully-engulfed garage fire, the house’s side paneling melted from the heat and drooped toward the large puddle from firefighters’ water hoses.

Reisdorph’s five cats, two dogs and her son escaped the house with her, and the house was not badly damaged.

“Everything in the garage is probably ruined,” she said.

An early 2000s sedan in the garage burnt, which Reisdorph said was a friend’s vehicle.

“He’ll be happy,” she said sarcastically.

Burnt wood and metal shelving from the garage lay in the front of the house near three cars that did not appear damaged.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire, firefighters said.