CHENEY -- Spokane Fire investigators say evidence at the scene of a fire in Cheney Tuesday morning that burned a truck and triplex points to arson.

The fire was called in around 2:40 a.m. by neighbors Mike Rodriguez and Ryan Riggs who say they heard a car horn blaring and went outside check it out.

“We ran out and the truck [was] on fire,” Mike said.

“So then we started screaming to people inside because they weren't awake from the horn,” Ryan said.

Four people were inside the triplex at the time of the fire.

“We were telling them to jump through the window we'll catch them,” Ryan said.

“And the people that lived in the middle unit actually ran through the flames to get out,” Mike added.

The four residents safely evacuated from the building and Riggs and Rodriguez took pictures as the fire consumed the building.

“We have snap shots of it minute after minute it went to the third story within two minutes,” Ryan said.

“Just walked up the entire side of the building and within two minutes the entire building was engulfed,” Mike added.

Firefighters were able to stop the fire but not before it caused serious damage, destroying the roof, the wooden staircase and the side of the building.

At daybreak, a fire investigator from the Spokane Fire Department quickly determined the fire was arson.

“We had a positive hit for hydrocarbons and the hood of the truck, the asphalt in bed of pickup and up on the remains on the wooden deck,” Cheney Fire Chief Mike Winters said. “It all points to an intentionally set fire.”

Chief Winters added their investigation will use pictures shot by Riggs and Rodriguez while Cheney Police will conduct interviews to try and determine who set the fire.

Neighbors Riggs and Rodriguez are just glad they heard the fire before anyone was hurt.

“We did what anyone else would do you want to make sure they get out,” Mike said.

The property owner says all four people who lived at the triplex are Eastern Washington University students and three of them had recently moved into the triplex in the last week or so. None of them had renters insurance and all of them are now staying with friends or family.