ARLINGTON — A Friday night fire north of Arlington stole away the lives of two boys, 11 and 12.
The fire was reported at approximately 10:54 p.m., according to North County Fire/EMS public information officer Christian Davis.
By the time firefighters reached the house in the 22800 block of 19th Dr. NE, six minutes after the call, the blaze was already too hot for firefighters to enter, Davis said.
The call was up-graded to a second alarm fire, attracting more than 50 firefighters, five engines, four tenders, one ladder truck, one medic unit, two aid units, three command units and two support units responded from North County Fire/EMS as well as city of Arlington Fire Department, the city of Stanwood fire department, Snohomish County Fire District 21 (Arlington Heights), Snohomish County Fire District 19 (Silvana) and Marysville Fire District all arrived to help battle the devastating fire.
When crews arrived at the scene, they found heavy fire coming from the house and the basement and learned that two children were trapped inside the home. They quickly extended hose lines to battle the blaze and attempted to make rescue. The heat and flames pushed the crews back and forced them to take a defensive position to fight the fire.
The owners of the house for about a year, Mark and Susan Lee, are known to care for foster children. They were among the eight out of the 10 occupants who escaped the fire after they were alerted by working smoke detectors. They were unable to reach the two boys located in the northwest corner of the house.
The eight survivors were transported to a local hospital for minor burns and smoke inhalation.
The names of the two boys who died were not released before press time on Monday, Nov. 24. They were identified, however, as students in the Arlington School District.
“One was a student at Post Middle School and the other was just recently re-registered,” said the district’s PIO, Misti Gilman.
The district is prepared to be especially sensitive to the needs of students and staff who are affected by the deaths in the fire, Gilman said.
“Extra counselors are available to provide staff and students with support,” she added.
The district’s superintendent, Dr. Kristine McDuffy, extended her sympathy to the family.
“We were shocked and saddened to learn of this tragic event. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family. We will join the community in rallying to assist them in any way we can during this extremely difficult time,” McDuffy said.
The family is known to be active with the Church of Latter-day Saints and the church has expressed its willingness to mobilize quickly in support the family.
North County crews stayed on the scene for more than 12 hours to assist with extinguishment and recovery. The Snohomish County Fire Marshals Office investigated the fire and estimated cost of damages to be around $525,000. The fire is believed to have been started by faulty electrical wiring, according to investigator Gary Bontrager with the Fire Marshals Office.
Don’t let it happen to you
North County Fire/EMS offers a free smoke detector program. Residents of the North County Regional Fire Authority area in need of a smoke alarm or who would like to have their smoke alarms checked, should call Battalion Chief Christian Davis at 425-754-4342.
