Fire destroys couple's home

PRIEST RIVER — An elderly couple lost their home and narrowly avoided injury after a fire started with a vehicle in the driveway and quickly engulfed the entire residence Tuesday night near Priest River.

Volunteers from the West Pend Oreille Fire Department responded to 1025 Old Priest River Road at around 6 p.m. and spent nearly five hours battling the blaze.

The two-story, approximately 6,000-square-foot home was owned by Duane and Charlene Peterson.

WPOFD Chief Los Kokanos said the home was a complete loss although the residents did have homeowner’s insurance. The chief added that he wasn’t exactly sure of the cause of the fire but did know it originated, “while he (Duane) was working on his truck in the driveway.”

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