Fire destroys garage, truck in Post Falls
<p>A firefighter battles the Post Falls garage fire early Tuesday morning. The cause hasn't been determined. A firefighter battles the Post Falls garage fire early Tuesday morning. The cause hasn't been determined.</p>
<p>This fire at 580 W. Bridle Lane in Post Falls early Tuesday destroyed a garage and truck. This fire at 580 W. Bridle Lane in Post Falls early Tuesday destroyed a garage and truck.</p>
POST FALLS - A fire destroyed a Post Falls garage early Tuesday and displaced a mother and her adult son.
The fire, just after midnight at 580 W. Bridle Lane east of Chase Road, caused an estimated $50,000 worth of damage, including destroying a newer Chevy pickup which was parked in the driveway, said Dan Ryan, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue division chief.
"There was some ammunition that popped off during the fire," Ryan said. "It did not create a problem, just noise. There was also a propane tank in the garage and it did not explode."
The occupants - who are renting the home owned by Richard and Audrey Oates - and a dog evacuated the house safely.
"The mother heard a noise in the garage and thought it was her son," Ryan said. "But, when she went out to look she discovered the garage was on fire."
The cause is under investigation.
"There is nothing that's suspicious," Ryan said. "The renters mentioned that they've had difficulties with the garage door opening."
Ryan said the garage was fully involved when firefighters arrived, but there was minimal damage in the house.
"People in the neighborhood had put out their garbage cans and the fire was so intense that it burned out the back of the cans (in front of the house)," Ryan said. "Firefighters were able to get on top of the fire before it took the whole house."
Ryan said the fire did spread to the attic, requiring firefighters to pull part of the ceiling down.
Trees caught fire next to the house, but crews prevented the fire from spreading to the neighbor's house.
Police said the original call came in as a possible weapons offense with ammunition going off. Neighbors were evacuated.
"I heard the ammo going off and sirens and was gravely concerned it was PFPD (Post Falls Police Department) in a gunfight," local resident Gavin Brodwater wrote on Facebook.
The American Red Cross is assisting the victims with temporary housing. Ryan said the owners are also trying to find interim housing for the occupants.
The owners have insurance on the home and the renters have insurance on the truck, Ryan said.