Snohomish County Fire District 1

An early-morning electrical fire caused more than $100,000 damage at the home of an elderly couple in unincorporated Snohomish County east of Lynnwood on Jan 23.

The fire was reported around 5:15 a.m. at a two-story house in the 20800 block of 23rd Ave. W. “Smoke alarms in the home sounded, but the homeowners were already up and awake when the fire started. They called 9-1-1 and reported their house was filling with smoke,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1. “The dispatcher advised them to evacuate and the couple safely exited their home.”
 
When firefighters arrived, smoke was coming from the house and an orange glow was visible in a second-floor window. Inside, they found a bedroom engulfed in flames.

Firefighters from Fire District 1 and Lynnwood had the fire under control within 20 minutes and kept flames from spreading beyond the bedroom where the fire started.

“Although fire damage was contained to the one room, heavy smoke damage throughout the second-floor left the home uninhabitable,” Hynes said.

Support 7 and the Red Cross responded to assist the couple. The homeowners have insurance.

An investigator from the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s office determined the cause of the fire was electrical.

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A fire caused more than $200,000 damage and displaced a couple from their home in Brier on Jan. 20.

Dispatchers received multiple 9-1-1 calls around 8:40 a.m. reporting flames and smoke coming from the single-story house in the 21500 block of Elm Drive. “A woman was home when the fire broke out. She was able to get out safely,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1, which provides fire service in Brier.

Firefighters could see a large column of black smoke as they responded from nearby Brier Fire Station 18. “When they arrived at the house, the garage was in flames and smoke was pouring out from the eaves,” Hynes said.

Firefighters from Fire District 1, Lynnwood and Bothell responded.  “The flames had extended to the attic, but firefighters made a quick attack and had the fire under control within about 20 minutes,” Hynes said.

No one was injured. At the peak of the fire, about 35 firefighters were on the scene.

The fire caused heavy damage to the garage and destroyed a car parked inside. The attic was also heavily damaged by fire. Firefighters were able to stop the flames before they reached the living area, but there was heavy smoke damage throughout the house.

The couple has insurance. Fire investigators determined the fire started in the garage, but were unable to identify the cause. “The investigation is ongoing, but at this time there is nothing suspicious about the way the fire started,” Hynes said.

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