A family of four lost their home and dog in a fire May 7 near Kingston.

North Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched at 10:02 a.m. A neighbor from about 1,000 feet away on Country Woods Lane, about four miles from Kingston, noticed a black column of smoke rising into the air and called 911.

Firefighters arrived and attempted to locate the source; within 11 minutes of initial dispatch, they found the 1,100-square-foot manufactured home already well consumed by flames and called for additional resources. Units came from Poulsbo Fire Department as well as from NKF&R’s four stations.

The fire was brought under control by 11:04 a.m. With no nearby hydrants, crews had to rely upon tender trucks to bring the 9,000 gallons of water necessary to fully extinguish the fire. Operations were further challenged by the neighborhood’s narrow access roads that lack sufficient width or turnarounds for fire apparatus, an NKF&R news release says.

Investigators from the Kitsap County Fire Marshal’s Office spent several hours at the scene. No one had been in the house since 8:20 a.m. Although the blaze is thought to have been accidental, the cause remains under investigation.

Officials note that monitored fire alarms (which provide early automatic detection and fire department notification) or residential fire sprinkler systems (which provide early automatic fire suppression) are the best methods for preventing that kind of loss.

The two adults and two children who had been living in the home are staying with friends. The home was insured.