Aberdeen and Hoquiam firefighters battled an early morning blaze Thursday in the 100 block of West 4th Street in Aberdeen. Ten residents were able to escape from the structure, which sustained more than $220,000 in damage, according to Aberdeen Fire Department Battalion Chief Damon Lillybridge.
Crews responded at 2:20 a.m. and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the side door of the two-story woodframe structure, according to Lillybridge.
“From there the fire was able to extend throughout the laundry room area of the first floor into the second floor attached apartment above the involved area,” said Lillybridge. “Ultimately fire crews were able contain and extinguish the fire, preventing further extension into the first and second floor of the main structure as well as any surrounding exposures.”
There were 10 occupants who escaped the fire, said Lillybridge. Four were located in a rear second-story attached apartment and six were located in the main structure.
“The fire caused extensive heat damage to the first-loor laundry room and second-floor apartment located at the rear of the main structure. There was smoke damage throughout the rest of the building,” said Lillybridge.
Fire crews were on scene for approximately four hours. A total of 14 Aberdeen firefighters, the assistant chief, chief, two Hoquiam firefighters and four Fire District 2 (Central Park) firefighters responded with one command unit, five engines and three medic units. Smoke and fire damage to structure and contents was estimated to be $221,242. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and is considered undetermined at this time.