Martin Bilbao / The Olympians (TNS)
Lacey firefighters responded to two house fires this week that killed three pets.
Firefighters were called to the fire at a four-unit apartment complex in the 500 block of Pacific Highway Southeast, next to the Nisqually River, just after 8 a.m. Thursday and had it under control in about 20 minutes, the Lacey Fire District said. 3 Chief Steve Brooks said. he told The Olympian.
One occupant suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, Brooks said. Unfortunately, the cat and dog died from smoke inhalation, he said.
Brooks said the fire started in the center of the apartment and spread to the attic and adjacent apartments.
“The first responders that were the source of the outbreak sustained significant damage,” Brooks said. “At this point, we have not determined where it came from, so we need to continue investigating.”
The damage was so severe that residents were unable to return to their buildings. The American Red Cross is assisting residents of all four apartments, he added.
Brooks said the Lacey Fire Department relied on mutual aid for water because there were no fire hydrants near the apartment.
At least three other fire districts have submitted water bids, including East Olympia Fire District 6, South Bay Fire District 8 and McLean-Blacklake Fire District, according to a Lacey Fire District 3 Facebook post.
The Olympia Fire Department was assigned additional calls while Lacey Fire District 3 was busy responding to the fire, according to the post.
Lacey Fire Department responded to a new fire at an apartment complex in the 4400 block of Roxanna Loop Southeast just after 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Brooks said the fire started in the kitchen area of one of the units and was extinguished by firefighters in about 20 minutes. No one was injured, but Brooks said a dog rescued from the bedroom died of smoke inhalation.
“We have pet first aid equipment in our vehicles,” Brooks said. “They gave the dog oxygen and CPR, but were unable to revive him.”
Brooks said the damaged units suffered so much damage that residents were unable to return to their homes. He said these residents refused assistance from the Red Cross and made their own housing arrangements.
Residents of other units in the duplex were able to return to their homes, he added.
Brooks said the causes of both house fires were still under investigation as of Thursday afternoon.
“It's always a great reminder to make sure your smoke detectors are working,” Brooks said. “That's probably the most important message of all of this.”
Of note, Lacey Fire District 3 crews responded to Tuesday's fire just after finishing the 75th anniversary celebration.
