Apartment fire investigation continues
<p>The cause of Saturday’s apartment complex fire in Post Falls was a chip in a cellphone that touched terminals of the battery, a resident told police. The resident told police she was replacing the chip and battery on her phone when the small “explosion” caught a chair on fire.</p>
POST FALLS - A resident told police that Saturday night's apartment fire in Post Falls was caused by a cellphone.
"She stated that she was replacing the SIM card and battery on her cellphone when the SIM card touched the terminals on the battery, causing it to 'explode,'" the police report states.
The incident caused a chair to catch on fire, according to the woman, who was not injured. The fire spread to a second unit in the building.
Jeryl Archer, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue fire marshal, said he has found no evidence to support or discount the witness statement to police based on the preliminary investigation.
He said an investigation continues and the cause is still undetermined.
The resident and another tenant in the building in the 100 block of East 19th Avenue were transported to Kootenai Health to be treated for smoke inhalation.
A cat died in the fire.
There was smoke damage throughout the five-unit building. All residents were evacuated. The American Red Cross is assisting the victims.