SEQUIM — The cause of a fire that charred part of an East Belfield Avenue home Tuesday morning is “undetermined,” a Clallam County Fire District No. 3 assistant chief said.
Roger Moeder, who headed up the investigation into the fire’s cause, said the department was unable to determine the cause of the fire based on the witnesses’ account.
“Smoking could be a possibility, an electrical charger could be a possibility, a candle could be a possibility,” Moeder said, adding that it is “fairly typical” that investigators cannot corroborate a witness’ story with investigators’ findings.
No one was hurt in the fire inside the rental home at 871 E. Belfield Ave., where a half-burned mattress and charred bedding material were pulled out of the home and left on the front lawn.
The fire reported shortly after 9 a.m. resulted in extensive damage to the bedroom where it originated, and minor smoke damage throughout the rest of the home.
The homeowner, Chad Copeland, said his insurance should cover the damage and he would relocate the two men and two children living in the home to another of his rentals.
Fire district spokesman Patrick Young said one of the men was sleeping at the time of the fire and another came home, both realizing the house was filled with smoke.
“Mattress fires burn hot and smoky,” Young said.
They both escaped the smoky fire, were examined by emergency medical technicians with Olympic Ambulance at the scene, and released without being transported to the hospital.
Clallam County Fire District No. 3 firefighters doused it about 9:30 a.m.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
