LAKE SUTHERLAND – Fire destroyed a residence at Lake Sutherland Tuesday.
Clallam 2 Fire Rescue was called to the fire at 177 Boulder Road about 2:15 AM.
Fire Chief Jake Patterson says the structure was fully involved in fire when crews arrived. He says the fire was initially knocked down but had spread to several concealed spaces in the roof trusses. The fire was declared under control after about an hour and fully extinguished by 5:00 AM.
Patterson says there were two adults and three children inside the house at the time of the fire. They were alerted to the fire by a loud noise and found a fire burning on the exterior of the house. The fire then spread quickly to the structure despite the occupant’s efforts to extinguish. All occupants were safely evacuated before firefighters got there. One adult suffered a burn injury and was treated at the scene. A cat, hedgehog, and gecko were retrieved by firefighters; however, an additional hedgehog did not survive the fire.
Patterson says some discarded fireworks had been placed next to combustible materials and likely smoldered and spread. A propane tank likely vented and ignited, causing a rapid spread of the fire.