Fire Chief Mike Kytta speaks about the Ham Hill house fire at a press conference this afternoon, flanked by Centralia School District Superintendent Mark Davalos, left and Assistant Chief Rick Mack.
Updated at 7:47 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CENTRALIA – The cause of the house fire that claimed the lives of three children in Centralia remains under investigation as untold numbers of individuals mourn their loss.
“It’s with heavy hearts we’re here before you today,” Riverside Fire Authority Assistant Chief Rick Mack said this afternoon to a gathering of news reporters.
Mack said the fire appeared to start not far from the front door.
“We have narrowed the origin down to the area of the living room,” he said. “We came to that conclusion based on fire patterns we observed.”
Mack said there are many things they need to look at, and probably the most important will be an interview with the sole survivor.
The windows and doors of the four-bedroom, split level home on Ham Hill Road are boarded up now.
Police Chief Carl Nielsen
The fire investigator indicated he did not know not what kind of heating system was employed at the residence. He does not yet know if there were smoke detectors, he said.
The kitchen stove was removed for examination, but Mack said he doesn’t know what if any role it may have played.
“Initially we did hear something on or about the stove glowing, so we took it into evidence,” he said.
The fire was reported by the mother at about 12:45 a.m. today. Lewis County 911 Communications stated it received multiple reports of smoke seen from a distance.
Authorities said the father lives elsewhere and the children’s bedrooms were upstairs.
Medics evaluated the mother for as long as three hours at the scene, Fire Chief Mike Kytta said.
“She told us she was asleep on the first level, and awakened to a sound, we don’t know what that was,” Mack said. “She tried to make access to the children on the upper level and was unable to because of smoke and heat.”
Centralia Police Department Chief Carl Nielsen this afternoon spoke on behalf of his department, the fire department and the school district.
“When units arrived on-scene, they found the house fully engulfed,” Nielsen said.
Three first responders made tremendous efforts to rescue the youngsters, according to Nielsen.
“Centralia Police Officer Phil Weismiller and RFA Capt.Terry Ternan and Engineer Rick Leboeuf climbed on roof and attempted to gain access to the children’s bedrooms,” he said. “Unfortunately the intense heat and flames prevented their heroic efforts from gaining entry.”
Weismiller’s hand was cut by glass from breaking a window, he said. The officer was treated at the hospital and is resting at home this afternoon, he said.
“The death of any child is significant in any community,” Nielsen said. “The loss of three in a community the size of Centralia is truly a tragedy.
“I have personally witnessed the outpouring of community support this morning and would ask people to take time out of our always busy schedules to think about the family of the victims of today’s tragedy and to make the time to appreciate and love your family members.”
Centralia School District Superintendent Mark Davalos confirmed the kids attend Centralia schools. He said they are in second grade, fourth grade and sixth grade.
The family requested their ages and names not be released.
“We want to extend our heartfelt sorrow to the family,” Davalos said. “I need to be strong for our staff and our community, but this is a huge loss.”
One attended Edison Elementary, two attended Washington Elementary.
Chief Kytta also responded to questions from news reporters this afternoon at the fire station on Harrison Avenue.
Along with smoke alarms and sleeping with bedroom doors closed, firefighters encourage folks to consider ahead of time at least two ways out of any room.
“Can you get out the window with a chain ladder, for example,” he said.
Nielsen said he doesn’t anticipate any more information being released until the investigation is concluded. He didn’t give a time line.
Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod expects autopsies to be conducted next week. He indicated he won’t be able to confirm and release the identities of the deceased until mid-week.
Chief Nielsen said he knows of three ways to donate to the family.
A family friend named Sandra Wing has set up a Go-Fund-Me account.
Donations can be made in person at the Centralia branch of Security State Bank and cards can be sent to P.O. Box 99 at Centralia Post Net at 1120 Harrison Avenue in Centralia.
A candlelight vigil is planned for 8 p.m. tomorrow in Washington Park which is located at Main and Pearl streets in Centralia.
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For background, read “Mother escapes, three children dead after Centralia house fire” from Friday March 4, 2016 at 9:51 a.m., here
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Flags are lowered at Washington Elementary School this afternoon, where two of the three children attended.
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