Fire damages McFarland Avenue home

Fire investigators in Coeur d’Alene are working to determine the cause of a fire that damaged a home Tuesday morning at 1019 McFarland Ave.

A second alarm was called, bringing in fire crews from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue and Northern Lakes Fire Department, because a family friend was potentially still in the home.

Crews searched the building twice and did not locate the individual who had stayed the night. Residents of the home contacted the friend and learned he had left the residence before the fire broke out.

The fire caused significant damage to the attic and roof of the building. The occupants were renters who did not have insurance, although the home’s owner is insured. The Red Cross was called in to assist the now-displaced family.

There have been several structure fires recently in Coeur d’Alene, including a home, a building at the corner of Fourth and Sherman Avenue, and the shops on Fourth Avenue where the Good Samaritan Thift store was located.

In a written statement issued Tuesday, fire officials in Coeur d’Alene said there does not appear to be any relation between any of the fires that have occurred in the last two weeks.