Yellow Pages
CLEAR LAKE — Two house fires within two blocks of each other were reported 6 minutes apart in this lakeside town Saturday night, one ending in a total loss and burn injuries to an occupant.
During the time the fires were being fought, state Department of Transportation crews detoured traffic around the intersection of Highway 9 and Francis Road.
The first fire started on the back porch of a 100-year-old two-story home on Hwy. 9 and quickly spread to the interior of the house, said Fire Chief Brett Berg of both Big Lake and Clear Lake fire districts.
“When we arrived there, flames were coming out of every window but maybe two,” Berg said.
The two women and one man who lived in the rented house escaped with only the clothes on their backs, Berg said.
The man, who is in his mid-40s, suffered burns on his arms, hands and face, Berg said. The victim was rushed to Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon, where he was treated and released, Berg said. The fire chief said he didn’t know how the man got burned.
Firefighters asked the American Red Cross to help with shelter for the family and Berg said he thought the family planned to stay with relatives.
It took 25 firefighters from Clear Lake, Big Lake and Mount Vernon fire departments working in a high wind about 20 minutes to knock the flames down, Berg said. They remained on site until about 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
The Skagit County Fire Marshal’s Office Sunday was still investigating the cause of the fire, which was reported to 911 about 8:15 p.m. Saturday.
About five minutes after the first fire was reported, a caller to 911 reported a second fire Saturday about two blocks away on Old Day Creek Road.
Because firefighters from Clear Lake and other nearby departments were battling the first fire, firefighters from Day Creek and Sedro-Woolley responded to the second call, which was a chimney fire, Berg said.
Additional information about the second fire wasn’t available Sunday evening.
Marta Murvosh can be reached at 360-416-2149 or .
