A grandmother of seven has died in a Washington state house fire the week before the holidays.
Firefighters responded to the fatal blaze in Lynnwood just after noon on Sunday, Dec. 16, according to a news release from South County Fire.
The two-story home, located in the Alderidge community, was “nearly engulfed in flames” when crews arrived at the scene, the fire department said. It took approximately 20 minutes for firefighters to put out the flames.
After extinguishing the blaze, “firefighters found a woman in her 80s who had died.”
The victim was an 81-year-old grandmother of seven, according to CBS affiliate KIRO-TV. Her name has not been released to the public.
A man in his 90s was assessed at the scene of the fire “for possible smoke inhalation,” according to South County Fire. One volunteer “was also evaluated for a possible medical issue.”
Crews initially struggled to enter the home after several portions of the first floor had collapsed, with “other areas in danger of collapse.”
As many as six people lived in the home that went up in flames, according to ABC affiliate KOMO-TV. The home was reportedly “destroyed” and “total monetary damages” are being calculated.
The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating what caused the blaze. Firefighters did not hear a smoke detector when they were at the site of the fire, South County Fire Communications Director Christie Veley told KIRO-TV.
In the meantime, South County Fire is encouraging the public to “check your home’s smoke alarms” to avoid a similar tragedy.
The fire department recommends changing replaceable batteries in smoke alarms “once each year” and “replace all smoke alarms after 10 years.
