COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Investigators are searching for a suspected arsonist after two fires erupted in North Coeur d’Alene early Saturday morning, destroying one home and damaging two others.
One of the fires has already been classified as arson.
Lisa Tetreault, who lives across the street from the Wheatfield Drive fire, was jolted awake by an explosion around 3:45 a.m. “We were both just kind of confused, and then the second explosion went off and we both jumped out of bed and there was a huge fireball across the street,” Tetreault said.
The explosions were powerful enough to send debris into Tetreault’s backyard. She immediately grabbed a hose and began watering down her grass to prevent the fire from spreading to her property.
Tetreault’s neighbors, who had recently moved into the house next door just a couple of months before the fire, saw their home badly damaged by the flames.
“I’m really grateful there was no one in that house, but our close friends were asleep next door where this other house was ruined,” Tetreault said. “And our other neighbors, their house was damaged as well and they have a small child.”
The rapid response from the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department prevented the fire from spreading further through the neighborhood. Firefighters were able to arrive quickly because they were already investigating a separate fire on Mineral Drive, less than a mile away, when the Wheatfield Drive call came in.
Investigators determined the Mineral Drive fire was intentionally set. They are now investigating the Wheatfield Drive fire as well.
“There’s a lot of small children, and they’re pretty scared for their safety,” she said. “I have a friend next door and her little daughter told me yesterday that she’s scared and she feels like she’s being watched.”
Police are urging people in the area to review security footage from their doorbell cameras and surveillance systems for any suspicious activity between 3:45 a.m. and 4 a.m. Saturday morning.
Anyone with information about either fire is encouraged to contact the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
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