(STORY IMAGE:KHQ.COM)
SPOKANE, Wash. - Fire crews responded to a 2 alarm structure fire at a vacant building on Haven and Wellesley Tuesday morning.
Spokane Fire authorities say the building has been vacant for several years and so when they arrived on scene, they had no intention of sending firefighters inside to risk their lives looking for people possibly trapped.
However, about 45 minutes after arriving on scene, a homeless man emerged from a secured door in the basement saying he thought there could be one other person inside.
At that point fire crews made the decision to search with thermal imaging to try and locate anyone else inside. They were not able to find anyone.Firefighters will be on scene for several hours. Avoid the area if possible.The fire broke out just before 6am. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.