Port Angeles fire crews knock down blaze that endangered two homes

PORT ANGELES — Crews extinguished a house fire on Edgewood Drive on Tuesday and prevented the blaze from destroying an adjacent home, Clallam County Fire District No. 2 Deputy Chief Jake Patterson said.

All of the occupants of the houses at 2418 and 2414 Edgewood Drive were accounted for, Patterson said. One pet dog was missing, he said.

Crews were dispatched to a fully involved structure fire at 2418 W. Edgewood Drive at 2:49 p.m. The house was about 50 percent involved with heavy smoke coming from the garage, Patterson said.

Crews began knocking down the fire with a deck gun from the top of a water tender, Patterson said. Fire lines were established when more personnel and equipment arrived.

A second house at 2414 W. Edgewood Drive caught fire during the initial attack on the first house and garage.

“Our first-in crews did a really good job of saving house No. 2,” Patterson said in a telephone interview.

Patterson estimated that the first house was 30 percent to 40 percent burned with extensive heat, smoke and water damage.

Damage to the second home was mainly confined to the exterior, Patterson said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation as crews worked to extinguish hot spots late Tuesday afternoon, Patterson said.

The American Red Cross was called to assist the family of four living in the heavily-damaged home, Patterson said.

The two occupants of the second house opted to stay with family, Patterson said.

Clallam County Fire District No. 2 received mutual aid from the Port Angles Fire Department and Joyce-based Clallam County Fire District No. 4.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and Clallam County Public Utility District also assisted, Patterson said.

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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.