February 16, 2012 in Idaho
Waterfront mansion destroyed by fire
A waterfront mansion in Post Falls was destroyed by fire this morning.
The home, located along the Spokane River at 1504 Plaza Drive, was fully engulfed when neighbors awoke this morning after hearing what they described as a series of explosions. Flames and smoke were visible from Interstate 90.
The 911 call for the fire at the corner of Plaza Drive and Handy Street came into Kootenai County’s dispatch center around 6:20 a.m., authorities said. Investigators still are on scene but have been unable to enter the house.
Kootenai County records show the home, owned by Leonard and Pam Wallace, is assessed at $1.54 million.
No one was home at the time, Post Falls police say, because a malfunctioning dishwasher yesterday caused flooding in the house; in response, the homeowners shut off the home’s water supply. Because the home is heated by a radiant-heat system, shutting off the water also shut off the heat and the occupants — the Wallaces and their adult children — all went to different locations to stay the night, police say.
Post Falls police confirmed that officers were dispatched to the home Wednesday evening because of a “verbal altercation” between individuals at the house.
This morning, some neighbors in the waterfront subdivision said they were awakened by a series of explosions, then saw flames bursting out the mansion’s windows.
More information will be posted on this story as it develops.

Spokane7


CougarGold on February 16 at 10:36 a.m.
hmmmm…..interesting.
http://id.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20110330_0000168.DID.htm/qx
zelda on February 16 at 10:47 a.m.
Yes, quite interesting. And to think that this happened in Post Falls, ID (sarcasm intended). Well, until there’s more info., I guess the story is that “waterheater repair work was being done.”
Aaron on February 16 at 11:50 a.m.
I cant stand it when my water heater blows up my house that I am unable to sell!
zelda on February 16 at 12:26 p.m.
@cougargold — Re: lawsuit. “Bolus” I presume refers to some kind of identification system for cattle? One of TV news stations said that the home owner said the house was in foreclosure and he was in bankruptcy.
polistra on February 16 at 1:26 p.m.
Not real hard to figure this one out, is it?
CougarGold on February 16 at 1:33 p.m.
zelda - no idea but it apparently is effective for bankrupting people.
The_Seer on February 16 at 1:35 p.m.
I love my McMansions flame broiled!
zelda on February 16 at 1:52 p.m.
Kind of puzzles me (maybe it shouldn’t) when people are impressed by these montrous houses. They don’t have architecture, character or workmanship that makes them interesting; they’re grandiose and ostentatious with big windows and massive decks, lots of rooms and acres of drywall. Situated as it was next to the “Amway” house and with the name River Queen (Mississippi sternwheeler?) — classy.
RedCedar on February 16 at 1:58 p.m.
Insurance companies tend to look closely at fires in which there might be a financial motive. It sounds like there will be quite a few billable hours billed before anyone cuts a big check for this one.
Loudin on February 16 at 2:51 p.m.
I wonder if the Wallace’s used those extra-big marshmallows.
BTW, loved this line from their bankruptcy ruling:
“The Bankruptcy Court found that the Debtors were spending money at a significant rate, but Debtors’ monthly reports did not provide adequate information about where the money was going and, more importantly, why it was disappearing.”
Also this:
“There is also no evidence that Debtors provided an outline of a reorganization plan to the Bankruptcy Court.”
Um, it appears they did have a plan after all.
Loudin
oneanddone on February 16 at 2:57 p.m.
To alter an oft quoted comment about boat owners, “The happiest two days in the life of a now bankrupt McMansion owner is the day he buys the house, and the day it burns down.”
The_Seer on February 17 at 10:45 a.m.
zelda: Bingo! This is ostentatious consumption that screams “look at me!” I’d take a small, craftsmen style home on the lower South Hill over one of these glorified boxes any day.