PORT TOWNSEND — A fire that consumed a “mother-in-law” structure Thursday afternoon was knocked down by firefighters before it could spread to adjacent buildings.
The two-story dwelling at 4422 San Juan Ave. was severely damaged by the fire, which took about 45 minutes to extinguish.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue firefighter Sam Neville was driving by the house at around noon and saw smoke, first thinking it was coming from a barbecue, Fire Chief Gordon Pomeroy said.
Upon realizing it was a structure fire, Neville called it in using his off-duty radio — which caused some confusion, Pomeroy said.
“I heard all the chatter, but I thought it was just a drill and they were using the wrong channel,” the chief said.
Neville, who did not have his fire gear, entered the building and determined there was no one on the ground floor.
But he could not go upstairs because of the intense heat, Pomeroy said.
A propane tank was close to the house and caused some concern among firefighters until the blaze was under control, Pomeroy said.
Firefighters arrived and created a detour, channelling traffic through Lopez Avenue, which loops around the affected area.
Pest control worker Brandon Hampton was on a call at the house behind the structure when the fire broke out.
“I heard lots of popping,” he said.
He took a garden hose to wet down the fence and plants to keep the fire from spreading but couldn’t get close to the structure because of the heat, he said.
Pomeroy said the fire started on the building’s exterior and worked its way inside.
No cause of the fire was immediately determined, and an investigation continues, according to Port Townsend Police Officer John Bick, who is an arson investigator.
“We always treat it like arson until proven otherwise,” he said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
