PORT ANGELES — A New Year’s Day fire in the attic destroyed one guest bedroom and a portion of the attic and roof of a Port Angeles couple’s home.
The Wilkersons, who live on Walkabout Way, are hoping that New Year’s Day was the worst they’ll experience this year.
While preparing for dinner at around 7 p.m. Saturday, Beth Wilkerson tried to turn on her kitchen faucet — and when it didn’t work, her husband Clyde went in search of what threw the pump curcuit-breaker, she said.
A small, simmering fire had filled the attic with smoke, she said.
The couple called Clallam County Fire District No. 2. The firefighters opened up the attic from above and the oxygen rushed in feeding the embers and creating a blaze that destroyed the home’s spare bedroom, Beth Wilkerson said.
“The fire department did a wonderful job — they kept it contained, and we didn’t lose everything,” she said.
Wilkerson, who breeds dogs and owns more than a half-dozen dogs of her own, said no one — including the pets — was injured in the fire.
“We were really lucky in a way,” she said.
“But it kind of was like ‘Happy New Year to you.'”
Below the guest bedroom is also Beth’s father’s apartment. Monte Mogi’s kitchen has some water damage but he can still live there, Beth Wilkerson said.
Although the hallway and room are destroyed — and the roof has a large hole in it — the couple’s living room and other areas of the home are still habitable, she said.
Clallam County Fire District No. 2 arrived with a command vehicle, a structural engine, a rescue engine and a water tender, according to a news release.
“Electrical wires melting casing insulation and wood to catch fire, crews ventilated through the roof above fire location, crews also pulled down the ceiling in bedroom under fire source to be able to gain access to the attic,” the fire district said was the cause of the fire.
“Confirmed that the overhead wires to barn were completely melted through as well as the insulation that protects them in their normal state melted a 10-foot section.”
An insurance adjuster was expected to evaluate the damage this week.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
