Dog, turtle escape fire

Fire officials pulled a dog and turtle from a fire at Birch Hill Apartments on NE Westwood Drive in Pullman Monday afternoon. Damage estimates from the fire ranged from $5,000 to $8,000.

A woman walking her dog discovered the fire and told an apartment grounds worker who called 911.

Fire investigator Tony Nuttman said the fire was caused when a heat lamp for the turtle’s cage ignited a cardboard box and then the turtle cage and floor.

Nuttman said the firefighters got into the apartment, put the dog on the back porch and attended to putting the fire out. Nuttman said the workers didn’t find the turtle at first because the apartment was so smoky, but took him out when they found him. The occupant of the apartment was not home at the time.