BEAVER — A house fire that killed a Beaver man remained under investigation Saturday.
Terry Neal, 71, died in a late Friday evening mobile home fire that his wife escaped by jumping from a window.
Neal tried but failed to get out of the 1,500-square-foot home at 240 Lake Creek Road after it erupted in flames, according to Chief Bill Paul of Clallam County Fire District No. 1, which was called to the fire by a 9-1-1 call at 11:41 p.m. Friday.
Neal’s wife, Alice Neal, 79, jumped out of the bedroom window and was treated for lacerations and superficial burns at Forks Community Hospital, Paul said.
She was in stable condition Saturday morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The living room in the metal-sided home was in flames when Alice Neal awoke and awakened her husband, according to the chief.
“He was right behind her, but he didn’t make it out,” Paul said.
The fire, which appeared to be accidental, may have started in the kitchen, Paul said.
The blaze remains under investigation, he added.
Emergency vehicles and 12 fire department personnel from Fire District No. 1 stations in Beaver and Forks responded to the blaze.
“It was really involved when we first pulled up,” Paul said.
“The house was an absolutely total loss,” he said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
