PULLMAN, Wash. – The City of Pullman Fire Department has determined the cause of the house fire in College Hill, which resulted in an estimated $150,000 in damages.
Pullman Fire Marshal Darren Jones stated that the fire was caused by an accidental electric fire. Additional information provided by the rental property managers at 1255 NE Cove Way led to a revision of the damage estimate for the structure, built in 1954, to $150,000. The original owners had installed a drop-down movie screen that lowered from the attic to the living quarters.
Jones explained that there were motors in the attic that assisted in lowering and raising the screen, and they were situated near the suspected origin of the fire. Additionally, the original owners had installed projectors for displaying video on the screens, although these projectors were no longer present in the building.
According to the Pullman FD, a call was received around 10:30 a.m., reporting smoke coming from the attic. Upon arrival, fire crews discovered flames emerging from the roof near the chimney. With assistance from the Whitman County Rural Fire District 12, the fire was successfully extinguished.
