Spokane firefighters had a busy Monday morning after two house fires broke out on the east side of the city.
Crews responded around 6 a.m. to 1923 N. Nelson St. for a basement fire that was rapidly spreading to the first floor of the home, Steve Sabo, Spokane Fire Department battalion chief said. Firefighters initially fought the fire by going in through the front door, but later had to withdraw and work from outside the house.
“We had to pull crews out because the floor was dropping into the basement,” Sabo said.
No occupants were found inside the house, though one corner of the basement had not been searched by 8 a.m., Sabo said. The fire department has not been in contact with anyone who lived in the house, he said.
The fire was mostly out by 8 a.m., though some crews remained on scene. Sabo said the house would likely be a total loss.
Police were called to the house around 1 a.m. Monday to respond to a landlord-tenant dispute, police spokeswoman Officer Teresa Fuller said.
“We don’t know if that factors into the fire or not,” Sabo said. Fire investigators are working to determine a cause.
A second house fire broke out at 2115 E. 1st Ave. around 7:30 a.m. Monday. Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said the house was a duplex and the fire may have started in a back bedroom.
Nobody was inside the home when the fire broke out, Schaeffer said, and the occupants returned to the scene just before 8 a.m. Monday.