In brief: WSU investigating two on-campus fires

Washington State University president Elson Floyd called on students and staff to be on the lookout for anything unusual after a second apartment community center burned down early Saturday morning.

“It is now clear two fires this past week on the WSU Pullman campus appear to be suspicious in nature,” Floyd said, adding that he has requested that campus police and university housing security “increase their diligence.”

The first fire was reported May 22 at the community building at the Nez Perce apartment complex owned by WSU. The second was reported at 3:30 a.m. Saturday at the community building of the Chief Joseph apartment complex, also owned by WSU.

No one was injured in either of the fires and no apartments were damaged. Pullman Fire Department public information officer Glenn Johnson said an arson dog provided by the Spokane Valley Fire Department spent Saturday investigating both fire locations. The dog, named Mako, sniffs out common accelerants.

Samples were collected where Mako alerted, and they will be sent to a lab for testing. Currently, investigators are calling the Chief Joseph fire suspicious and the Nez Perce fire undetermined, Johnson said.

Nina Culver

Cyclist struck by SUV, taken to hospital

A man in his 60s was hit by an SUV while riding a bicycle at North Columbia Circle and North Park Boulevard near Downriver Golf Course around 4 p.m. Monday. The cause of the accident is under investigation by police, said Spokane Fire Department Battalion Chief Clive Jones.

“He didn’t have a heartbeat when we arrived,” Jones said. “A police officer was doing CPR.”

Paramedics were able to get a heartbeat and a faint pulse before the man was transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center for further treatment, Jones said.

Nina Culver

Boy, 13, still missing after boat accident

CAMAS, Wash. – A 13-year-old boy is missing and presumed drowned after the 18-foot fishing boat he was in was swamped off the eastern tip of Lady Island in the Columbia River on Sunday morning.

He was not wearing a life jacket. An extensive search for him was unsuccessful.

The boy’s father and grandfather were rescued. The family is from Sedro-Woolley, in northern Washington. Names were not released Sunday night.

Associated Press