Firefighters found the roof burning when they arrived to a house fire on the 100 block of Hideaway Hills Lane on Monday morning. / Courtesy photo
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The fire that destroyed the home of a mother and two teenage children east of Centralia was caused by a cigarette put into a soil-filled planter on the front porch that smoldered for hours, before the planter itself caught fire and began burning the siding near the front door.
Flames crawled up the wall, into the attic and then burned the roof off the 1,900 square-foot house, according to Fire Investigator Derrick Paul.
Paul said he’s seen it at least once before, and has also watched during training, how purchased potting soil products – not just ordinary dirt – will ignite. Some of the components are flammable, he said.
Members of four fire departments arrived early Monday morning after a barking dog alerted the occupants before their smoke alarms sounded.
Nobody was hurt and Paul said it was his understanding all the pets made it out fine.
The residence, built in 2000, is at the 100 block of Hideaway Hills Lane and owned by TransAlta. The tenants did not have renter’s insurance, according to Paul.
He said crews did a good job of stopping the fire, and some of the contents possibly may be salvageable.
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For background, read “News brief: Fire claims Centralia area home” from Monday April 13, 2015, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Yes, the American Red Cross and a chaplain were notified of the tragic loss and their services were requested to support the fire victims.
Did they call the Red Cross?