Vehicle fire investigated as arson
Photo courtesy of Kootenai County Fire and Rescue This 2011 Nissan Pathfinder was a total loss after a suspicious fire on Second Avenue in Post Falls early Sunday.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — A fire that destroyed a 2011 Nissan Pathfinder in Post Falls early Sunday is being investigated as an arson.
"The car had reportedly been parked for hours before ignition of the fire," said Kootenai County Fire and Rescue fire marshal Jeryl Archer, citing why the fire was suspicious.
The fire was reported at 3:54 a.m. in the 3500 block of East Second Avenue, southwest of the intersection of Seltice Way and Highway 41.
Officers responded to the fire, and found the vehicle — valued around $10,000 — was fully engulfed, according to Post Falls Police. Officers confirmed the Pathfinder was not occupied.
KCFR responded to extinguish the fire.
"Both the vehicle owner and neighbors reported hearing explosions at the time of the fire," Archer said. "These were most likely the tires popping as there was no evidence of additional explosions."
Archer said the vehicle was a total loss.
"The fire appears to have started in the passenger compartment and spread throughout the vehicle from there," he said, adding that the specific cause has not been determined. "There was no one reported to be around the vehicle at the time of the fire and no persons of interest have been identified."
When the owner saw the fire, both passenger side doors of the vehicle had been left open, investigators said.
The vehicle was towed to an impound lot, and police and fire departments are collaborating on the case.
The vehicle was parked in front of the registered owner's residence.
Those with information are urged to contact police at 208-773-3517 or leave an anonymous tip at www.postfallspolice.com.