KINGSTON — A family was displaced and their dog perished in a house fire that may have started as chimney fire March 3.
North Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews were called to the residence, down a long driveway in the 22000 block of Miller Bay Road, at 5:24 p.m. after a neighbor spotted flames coming from the 1,300-square-foot manufactured home. The first unit arrived on scene less than four minutes after dispatch and found the structure fully involved in flames, NKF&R spokeswoman Michele Laboda reported.
Trucks (known as water tenders), each carrying thousands of gallons of water, ferried water to the scene for the firefight as there were no hydrants close by. “Despite the fact that several portions of the single-story structure had collapsed, firefighters were able to control the fire within 20 minutes of their arrival on scene,” Laboda reported. “Sadly, most of the family’s possessions were destroyed and their dog, a rescued mixed-breed named Tug, did not survive the blaze.”
An investigator from the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene. Through evidence at the scene and interviews with the home’s occupants, the investigator was able to locate the fire’s origin in the living room around a woodstove’s chimney. The family hadn’t been home since earlier in the day. The adult male was the last to leave, loading the woodstove and dampering it down prior to leaving for work at about 12:30 p.m.
According to the couple, the woodstove was their primary source of heat and it is unknown when the chimney was last professionally cleaned and inspected. While investigators haven’t pinpointed the exact cause, it appears that the fire may have begun in the chimney and spread across the small attic space to involve the whole structure.
“Had the same fire broken out while the couple and their two small children (ages six weeks and three years) were home and asleep, firefighters say that the results might have been tragic,” Laboda reported.
“Officials say that chimney fires can be avoided with regular cleaning and inspections by certified professionals. Once a fire breaks out and regardless of its cause, they say that working smoke alarms and practiced fire escape plans are especially vital for families with young children. To get help with smoke alarms and fire escape planning, firefighters urge the public to contact their local department. Most will install the life-saving devices and provide escape planning materials free of charge.”
Though the structure was insured by the property owner, the young couple didn’t have renters’ insurance. The home is uninhabitable. Volunteers from the American Red Cross responded to the scene to offer assistance. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.
