South Oak Street, Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Daniel Hansen
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A family of five was hospitalized after a house fire in a Centralia neighborhood overnight that almost completely destroyed the residence.
Firefighters called to the 400 block of South Oak Street about 12:45 a.m. found the home heavily involved in flames and threatening two adjacent homes, according to authorities.
“Crews deployed hose lines for suppression of the affected residence and protection of the adjacent properties,” Riverside Fire Authority Capt. Scott Weinert stated.
The residence to the north was also occupied by a family of five, but both families got out prior to the arrival of firefighters, according to Weinert.
The five occupants from the primary house affected were transported to Providence Centralia Hospital, and then three of them transferred to a Seattle Hospital, according to Weinert. Airlifted were a man, a woman and a 17-year-old boy. The remaining two are children believed to be younger than 10, he indicated.
Weinert did not indicate what type of injuries they sustained.
Riverside Fire Authority was joined by members of the Chehalis Fire Department. The cause is under investigation.
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South Oak Street, Centralia. / Courtesy photo by Riverside Fire Authority