No Smoke Detectors But Family Escapes Fire Because Juvenile Is Awake

At 0105 hrs this morning, the Yakima Fire Department responded to the report of a house fire in the 900 block of South 41st Avenue. Four engines, a truck company and Acting Battalion Chief Norton responded to this incident.

On arrival, crews found a single story, triplex residence with light smoke coming from an end unit. The occupants of the fire unit had self evacuated. Crews made a quick attack on the fire, finding a large amount of fire in the living room of the residence. Crews were able to quickly control the fire, and then conducted a search of the building and extinguish the remainder of the fire. While the fire attack crews were locating and extinguishing the fire, another crew was assigned the task of evacuating occupants from the other units of the triplex. All occupants were evacuated with no injuries. Crews conducted overhaul operations extinguishing all fire and ensuring there had been no extension into the common attic that connected the three units.

The occupants of the fire residence were one adult and three juveniles.

One of the juveniles was awake when the fire occurred and alerted his mother to the fire when he saw sparks coming from an outlet. There were no working smoke detectors in the residence. Acting Battalion Chief Norton stated, “We were lucky here. Had the occupants been asleep when the fire started, with no working smoke detector, they may not have been aware of the fire and not been able to get out in time.” The Yakima Fire Department reminds people- Smoke detectors save lives by early detection of fires.

CAUSE:

The probable cause of the fire was electrical.

DAMAGE:

The fire damage was contained to the single unit of the triplex. The unit has extensive smoke and heat damage to the structure and contents.

LOSS: $50000