No cause determined for explosion, house fire near Cheney

Fire investigators have been unable to determine the cause of an explosion and house fire near Cheney on April 30, and what’s left of the structure is too unsafe to investigate further, said Spokane County Fire District 3 Division Chief Debby Dodson.

Firefighters were in the home at 12224 S. Gwendolyn Lane fighting the fire, which is believed to have started in the basement, when an explosion caused a quick evacuation. The stubborn fire burned for hours. The first floor collapsed into the basement and a portion of the roof burned away.

“We’re not going to put people in there,” said Dodson. “The roof is ready to go.”

Any further investigation would require specialized equipment that the mostly volunteer fire district doesn’t have, Dodson said.

“We just don’t have enough resources to do that,” she said.

Investigators were able to determine that none of the home’s breakers popped, which would seem to rule out an electrical fire, Dodson said.

The residence is a total loss. Spokane County Assessor’s Office records show that the 1996 home, valued at $589,000, is owned by Calvin and Xenia Camara.