Just weeks before the Christmas holidays, five Bonney Lake families are homeless after a Thursday fire destroyed a multi-family dwelling.
The blaze started around 10 p.m. in the 11300 block of 201st Avenue East.
One of the residents arrived home to see smoke and flames coming from a corner of the residence. He immediately woke everyone up and got them out, then called 911.
According to East Pierce Fire and Rescue officials, the construction of the multi-family dwelling presented a particular problem for firefighters.
The double-wide mobile home had been placed on a daylight basement and converted into separate units, housing the five families.
A rain roof constructed over the mobile home roof created access for the fire to spread to the entire structure. “It took awhile to get through all that,” explained East Pierce Battalion Chief Jay Adams. “However, firefighters were able to save much of the residents’ belongings.”
Fire crews worked with the American Red Cross to assist all five families in finding temporary housing.
Pierce County Fire Marshal Rod Lasher said the probable cause of the fire was an improperly installed wood stove. Although the investigation is ongoing, Lasher said the mobile home was a total loss. The estimated dollar value is yet to be determined.
East Pierce officials noted they are beginning to see more of these types of fires.
They recommend citizens have their wood stoves and chimneys inspected to prevent fires such as the one Thursday night.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires annually during the months of December, January and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.
“It’s important to keep the area around a wood stove or fireplace clear of things that can catch fire, including bedding, furniture, and – especially this time of year – paper and Christmas trees,” East Pierce Deputy Fire Marshal Lane Walthers said.
For more information about preventing fires, visit the Public Education section of the East Pierce Web site at www.eastpiercefire.org.
