DUNGENESS — Clallam County fire officials are investigating the cause of a second house fire in the Sequim area in the past five days.
Around midnight Sunday, fire broke out in a shed beside the rural Dungeness home of John and Rose Katte, Clallam County Fire District No. 3 officials said Monday.
There were no injuries, but the blaze caused considerable damage to the Kattes’ garage and house on Holgerson Road, according to District 3 Lt. Robert Rhoads.
The Kattes’ neighbors, Ben and Kim Skerbeck, had heard explosions and saw the flames before calling 9-1-1 and evacuating the Kattes, Rhoads added.
John Katte was able to move a vehicle away from the house and park it safely across the street.
Heavy smoke, flames
Crews, facing heavy smoke and flames, started by attacking from outside, and when more firefighters arrived, they entered the building, Rhoads reported. The fire was knocked down within a half hour.
The blaze drew three engines, two water tenders and rescue and paramedic units.
Since the home is uninhabitable, the Kattes went to stay with neighbors, Rhoads said, adding that the American Red Cross is providing assistance to the couple.
The Dungeness house fire comes four days after another blaze destroyed the East Fir Street home of Yvonne Sayer and her family. Though Fire Marshal Roger Moeder determined that fire started in the living room, its source had yet to be identified by Monday afternoon.
An account has been set up in Sayer’s name at Sound Community Bank branches in Sequim and Port Angeles for those who wish to make donations to support Sayer and her children Ayden, 5, and Haylee, 9.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
