SEQUIM — A single man who left his home Sunday evening to go to the store returned 45 minutes later to find the house consumed by flames, Clallam County Fire District No. 3 Assistant Chief Dan Orr said Monday.
No people or pets were injured.
The 512-square-foot rental house at 385 Knapp Road was fully involved when firefighters arrived at about 8:30 p.m., Orr said.
“When we arrived, it appeared it had been burning for quite some time,” he said.
The blaze occurred at the end of Knapp Road between Sequim Bay and Discovery Bay west of Gardiner.
Its cause and origin remained under investigation late Monday afternoon, Orr said.
“My investigators are still out there digging,” he said.
The estimated loss is $150,000 for the “relatively new” house and $30,000 for its contents, Orr said.
It had electric heat, a propane water heater and no fireplace, Orr said.
The owner of the house had fire insurance, Orr said.
No renters insurance
The occupant did not have renters insurance.
“If you are a renter, having renters insurance is pretty important, and it’s relatively inexpensive,” Orr said.
While the Red Cross assisted the man, he can temporarily live in a travel trailer on the property, Orr said.
Two District No. 3 fire engines and two tenders responded out of Blyn and Sequim, along with about a dozen full-time and volunteer firefighters.
________
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.
