Fire destroys Spokane Valley couple’s home

A fire that started early Wednesday gutted an elderly couple’s home in Spokane Valley.

Firefighters were called to 4111 S. Conifer Court around 6:10 a.m. Homeowner Bill Burtenshaw said his wife heard something in the kitchen early Wednesday; he went to investigate and saw fire in the back corner of the house. Both he and his wife got out safely as their smoke alarms sounded. The couple have lived in the house in the Ponderosa neighborhood for decades.

Spokane Valley Fire and Fire District 8 sent a total of 10 trucks to fight the fire. Complicating matters was a separate trailer fire at 10th Avenue and University Street that also occupied firefighters early Wednesday, said Greg Rogers, Spokane Valley fire marshal.

Rogers said the fire started at the back of the house and spread into the attic and basement; firefighters weren’t able to get into the burning building to attack the fire from the inside. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Neighbor Judy Dufford said another of her neighbors came over and woke her up. The fire was just outside her bedroom window.

“I could see out my back window and the shrubs were red. I thought, ‘The shrubs are not red yet,’” Dufford said.