Two-story house on Fuller Road is surrounded by yellow tape after blaze on Christmas Eve Day. / Courtesy photo by Derrick Paul
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The cause of a fire that destroyed a large, old two-story farmhouse on Saturday in Salkum remains under investigation.
Firefighters called about 10:45 a.m. to the 200 block of Fuller Road found the wood frame structure fully involved in flames, with a large hole already burned through its roof, according to Lewis County Fire District 8.
There were vehicles parked in the driveway, but after two thorough searches of the interior, they concluded nobody was there, Fire Chief Duran McDaniel said.
McDaniel said it’s probably one of the oldest homes in the valley, constructed around the turn of the century.
Nearly 20 firefighters from two districts battled the blaze, hauling about 20,000 gallons of water, McDaniel said.
They stopped the spread before it consumed an attached shed, he said.
McDaniel said he’s not sure who was living there, but understands a sheriff’s deputy, who was first on the scene, later interviewed the gentleman who resided there.
A crew was on scene until 3:15 p.m., according to McDaniel.
A fire investigator was there a few hours on Saturday and plans to return this week.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter