Fire damages Christ Our Redeemer

SANDPOINT — No injuries were reported following a kitchen fire that damaged Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on Friday, according to Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS officials.

Battalion Capt. Mike Gow said passersby in the 1900 block of Pine Street noticed smoke and heard smoke alarms blaring shortly before 8 p.m. Firefighters from Selkirk and the Sagle and Westside fire districts responded to the blaze.

“The crews did a good job of extinguishing the fire. We really didn’t have any fire spread into the attic space or adjacent rooms,” said Gow.

However, a food service window allowed smoke to infiltrate and damage the cathedral.

“We believe that the fire had been burning a long time,” Gow said.

The cause of the fire has been ruled undetermined but accidental. Investigators ruled out arson, but could not rule out a number of other potential causes, such as an appliance being left on.

“The kitchen stove was damaged and we couldn’t tell if it was in the on or off position,” said Gow.

While the cathedral suffered smoke damage, the church’s school was unscathed because a door separating those areas was shut. Gow said the incident underscores the importance of having well-maintained smoke alarms and closing off unused spaces.

“It’s a key factor to keep doors closed in rooms that you’re not using especially when you’re sleeping at night. Try to keep your doors closed,” Gow said, explaining that closed off rooms limit a fire’s ability to spread.