Fire

Four died after an early morning apartment fire near the Idaho border. Two children, Carolyn L. Carothers, age 13, and Samantha M. Jones, age 17 were pronounced dead at Pullman Medical Center. The identification of the two other victims that died in the apartment have yet to be released.

At 7:30 a.m. Pullman and Moscow fire departments were alerted to the fire at S. Columbia Ave. When they arrived flames were spewing from the front of the house and it was immediately contained. The apartment complex has two floors and four other residents were able to escape without injury. The house has extensive smoke, fire and water damage. At this time police have no information about how the fire started.

Police found a gasoline canister near the door to the apartment. Whitman County Prosecutor Paula T. Doe says, “We are investigating whether the fire was intentional or accidental." Fire officials say the fire caused more than $1 million in property damage.

Pullman Police Detective William Miles says a press conference will be held today at 4 p.m. to provide more details. "We have opened an initial investigation into this fire. At this point, we cannot comment further, Miles says." Anyone with information about this incident should contact law enforcement.