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Space heater blamed in house fire

by Brian Walker
| February 16, 2010 11:00 PM

POST FALLS - An adult female was transported to the hospital with burns after apparently trying to douse a fire in a Post Falls home early Tuesday.

Cathy Harris was treated and released from Kootenai Medical Center for burns to her feet, a leg and arm after a space heater was believed to start a mattress on fire at the home at 1530 N. Lincoln around 1:20 a.m.

Upon arrival, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue crews found smoke coming out of the residence and all 10 occupants, including two young children, safely evacuated, said Jim Lyon, KCFR spokesman. No other injuries were reported.

Four dogs, two snakes and a cat were also accounted for.

The fire was limited to contents in the basement bedroom, where Harris was burned, Lyon said.

"It appears that a space heater was too close to the bed and caught the bed on fire where a couple were sleeping," Lyon said. "A male adult in the home used a garden hose to extinguish the fire where, upon arrival, emergency crews found the fire smoldering in the mattresses and completed extinguishment."

Firefighters broke two basement windows for ventilation and later boarded them up.

Rich and Eileen Mann rent the home. Mike and Stacey Standby are the owners.

The home didn't lose heat or power, so occupants should be able to remain at the home, Lyon said. The American Red Cross was contacted to check with the couple whose personal belongings were involved to see if they need assistance.

"The renter and other occupants of the home mentioned that they did not have renters insurance," Lyon said.

Occupants were allowed back into the home around 2:30 a.m.

Firefighters found several smoke detectors that had been disabled which could have assisted in alerting the occupants, Lyon said.

The occupants were advised to keep flammable items at least 3 feet from any heat source and that fire personnel would contact them to help put the detectors back in working order.