Northstar Lodge Fire Blamed On Birds Nest

A bird next in a vent for a gas fireplace is to blame for a fire at Yakima's Northstar Lodge Monday. Firefighters were called to the cancer treatment facility at North 39th Avenue after a fire was found in north end of the roof. Julie Toney Marketing Specialist at Northstar says as soon as the alarm sounded they began evacuating patients. Investigators say heat from the fireplace caught the bird nest on fire spreading to some ceder siding. Damage is estimated at 17 thousand 5 hundred dollars. After the smoke cleared the employees and patients were allowed to go back inside. no injuries were reported. Things are back to normal today.