The early morning fire in a Centralia apartment left its sole occupant dead even though there was no structural damage
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CENTRALIA – The fire chief confirmed the man who died in a Centralia apartment fire early this morning was the resident.
His name is not being released until his family is notified, according to Riverside Fire Authority Chief Jim Walksowski.
The chief said he was 54 years old and lived there alone.
Firefighters called at 4:05 a.m. to the single-story complex on the corner of Magnolia and Iron streets found the unit filled with smoke, but not so much in the way of flames, Walkowski said. It had been smoldering, he said.
“It wasn’t your typical fire from that perspective,” Walkowski said.
A young man staying at the apartment had been knocking on the door trying to get in, and when he got the door partially open, smoke seeped out, according to neighbors and Walkowski. He went next door and called 911, the chief said.
Eleven responding firefighters put out out the fire and found the resident dead in the bedroom area, according to Walkowski.
The cause has not yet been determined, but it’s not suspicious, he said.
Tom Dipola, the property manager, said the resident moved there in early February. His girlfriend moved out about three weeks ago, according to neighbors.
“He was a pest, always beating on the door, but he was a good guy,” neighbor Bob Penfield said, adding he meant his neighbor visited him a lot.
Penfield said his neighbor didn’t work, he had residual problems from a head injury in a bad accident years ago.
“They were quiet and they were Christians, and they’d come here and talk about the Bible,” Penfield said.
The damage was confined to the contents of the apartment, it didn’t affect the structure or units on either side of it, according to Walkowski. The worst of it was in the front living area, he said.
The buildings, each containing four apartments, are made of concrete block.
A couch, mattress and wheelchair sat outside the building this morning after police and fire investigators finished their work. A scarecrow leaned next to the front door with pumpkins and several other items at its feet.
The wheelchair wasn’t the resident’s Walkowski said.
It’s the second fatal fire in the area in less than a week. Late Wednesday night, 54-year-old Gary Allen Ike perished when his Ethel-area home burnt.
Walkowski said: “Both these fires lacked one common thing, and that’s a smoke detector.”
“Having an operational smoke detector, is very, very important,” Walkowski said.
•••
Riverside Fire Authority strongly encourages the following precautions:
• Smoke detectors should be placed in each living area, including each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of a home.
• Change the batteries at least once each year
• Develop an escape plan that includes two exits from every room and a meeting place outside.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter