Fire caused substantial damage to a single story home in the 1700 block of W. First St. in Aberdeen Thursday night.
The occupant said no one was home at the time of the two-alarm blaze, reported the Aberdeen Fire Department, although two dogs and a cat died in the fire. Fire crews responded to the fire at approximately 9 p.m., and the fire was determined to be under control 19 minutes after crews made their initial entry, said Aberdeen Asst. Fire Chief Rich Malizia. Ten units with 23 firefighters responded.
Contents and debris involved in the fire were removed from the house. The occupant said the electricity for the home had recently been disconnected, but the crews found power from the pole to the meter base which was shut down by the PUD, he said.
The investigation revealed the fire started in a mattress and other miscellaneous furniture in one of the home’s bedrooms. A cause could not be determined, but the occupant had a history of using a candle over the bed as a source of light because her power had been shut off, Malizia reported. Heat and smoke damage to the house and furnishings are estimated at approximately $135,000.
The Grays Harbor County Assessor’s office listed the home’s owners as Robert and Lucille Sornberger of Hoquiam.
