Spokane Fire Investigators Search For A Cause

Some unanswered questions tonight...
Fire investigators try to find out what caused a fire that destroyed an apartment complex, a duplex and left 15 people out on the streets.  There's not much left after yesterday's fire.  The building had to be torn down right away for safety reasons.  Fire investigators got everything they needed.  Now comes the hard part...trying to put the pieces together and figure out what started this fire.  Bob and Lorrie Dampier get their first look inside their burned out apartment complex.  Just 24 hours ago, firefighters battled an inferno.  Under extruciating heat, they could do little to save the building.  The next day, investigators try to unravel the mystery.  Just what started a fire that left 15 people homeless?
Investigators know the fire started in a 12 inch space between the two buildings.  "What we've been able to do is isolate a burn pattern that corresponds to what they saw."  Now that they know where the fire started, the next question is how.  Investigators take soil samples to see if there's any traces of an excellerant, but right now anything from a discarded cigarette butt to faulty wires, to arson can't be ruled out.  As the on-scene investigation wraps up and crews leave, another set of crews enter the scene.  In less than a day when the fire first broke out, memories of 15 people are swept away.  The homes are just a few feet apart from each other.  The same for the other home.  Some home owners tonight are very happy with the job of the Spokane Fire Department.  As far as the investigation goes, it could be a few weeks before we get any answers.