[Previous entry: "Richard Lawson Has Passed"] [Next entry: "Council Retreats On New Development Fees For Dumps"]

01/27/2010: "Family Homeless After Orcas Fire"

(Lt. Harvey backs Capt. Anda dosing fire above room fire started in. -M. Sullivan photo)

By Max Jones

An Orcas family became homeless Monday morning after a fire destroyed the interior of their home.

Orcas Fire & Rescue received a call for a house fire at 166 Hemlock, just before 10 am on Monday morning. The first call to 911 was made from inside the home. More calls quickly followed, made by neighbors seeing the massive cloud of black smoke billowing into the sky.

Two of the residents were able to get out from the ground floor and one man had to jump from the second story window. They then raised a nearby ladder to rescue a child trapped on the front porch roof. Sadly, the family dog died of smoke inhalation before firefighters could find her.

Fire Station 21¹s new WASP Engine, and its counterpart Engine 21, arrived within six minutes of the first call to 911.

By that time, black smoke was boiling out the top floor and flames were shooting from the back windows. Although a back first floor room was completely involved, firefighters were able to knock it back and keep it from spreading to the rest of the home. In all, 26 firefighters fought the flames.

An aggressive 30-minute fire fight insured with firefighters going above and adjacent to the actual fire. The 26 firefighters were able to save 80 % of the structure however, the contents were heavily damaged.

The Orcas Island Red Cross was called to assist a total of six, now homeless, members of the household. As of yet, the cause of the fire is undetermined.