House burns on Northeast First near Jabez Street in Winlock. / Courtesy photo by Bethany Weaver Spalding
Updated at 8:30 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Firefighters are on the scene in Winlock where a house fire may have claimed three lives.
Lewis County Fire District 15 and three neighboring fire departments responded to multiple reports at 2:36 a.m. of a residential fire on the 800 block of Northeast First Street, near Jabez Street.
They found a large fire within a two-story home and attacked it from the exterior because of the large amount of fire present, according to District 15 Assistant Chief Kevin Anderson.
A man and two school-aged boys escaped, but initial information is a female and two female children were not able to get out, according to authorities.
Crews were still engaging in fire suppression efforts just before 6 a.m., according to Anderson.
Approximately 20 firefighters from Lewis County Fire Districts 15, 20, 2 and 5 battled the blaze.
Anderson states the Winlock Police Department is investigating to confirm that three individuals are inside, as well as the cause and origin of the fire.
Winlock Police Chief Terry Williams said just before 7 a.m., that he’s not yet able to get inside. The home is pretty much burned to the ground, he said.
Firefighters are still putting water on the structure, he said.
“Trying to get the heat down, pulling it apart,” he said.
Citizens should expect travel delays on Northeast First Street thorough the day.
Next door neighbor Mark Spalding said he awoke to an explosion that shook his house and got his family members out of bed.
“I didn’t know if it was our house, or whose house,” Spalding said.
He, his wife and his 14-year-old son ran toward the neighbor’s home, where they saw flames so high they were starting to touch the trees, he said.
Spalding said the man who lives there came running up to him on the road.
“The guy came up and put his hands on my shoulders just crying and screaming to help save his wife, his kids,” Spalding said.
It was too hot to get close to the house, Spalding said.
The Winlock School District issued a statement this morning, saying the students who attend their district are safe with the father in the care of the Red Cross, but three family members are unaccounted for.
“We will be providing support as needed to students and staff,” the statement said.
A house fire is such a tragedy that forever scars you to the bone…… my heartfelt sympathy for the family. We suffered a house fire in July of 2007 and my heart still starts racing and I feel physically ill when I even read stories like this. If I see a house on fire, I really lose it! We lost everything we owned but our only fatality was our family cat. I am still tore up over the cat. I can’t even begin to fathom how this family man feels over the loss of his wife and two daughters. It is such a horrible, unbearable sense of helplessness to watch your house burn…..They would be locking me away forever…… Has a fund been established yet to help this family? I would be more than willing to do whatever I can to help….
Prayers for this family!
Such an absolute tragedy for all involved. Heartfelt sympathy for the family and for everyone involved. Gratitude to the neighbors who were first on scene for being able to comfort the family to the best of their abilities. Thankful for the fire department and their professionalism as they did their job while pushing personal emotions and feelings aside. I know the community of Winlock will wrap their arms around this family and take care of them. Continued prayers for everyone.