PORT HADLOCK — Two families, including six children younger than 10, escaped injury early Monday when fire roared through their fourplex.
Fire investigators, still on the scene at 50 Old Hadlock Road late Monday afternoon, said the cause of the fire hadn’t been determined, but termed the cause as “suspicious.”
Patricia Rykehus, manager of the complex near the main intersection in Port Hadlock, said she’s “very concerned” the fire might have been intentionally started.
Firefighters from four Jefferson County fire districts were unable to enter the burning building because they feared it might collapse during the fire that broke out shortly after 2 a.m.
One witness said flames were shooting 30 feet into the air as the wood-frame apartments burned.
Nearly 30 firefighters from Chimacum, Cape George, Port Ludlow and Indian Island departments brought four fire trucks and several water tenders to the scene.
Only two of the four units in the building were occupied, according to Jefferson County Fire District No. 1 (Chimacum) spokeswoman Denise Manly.
The two families lived at opposite ends of the building, and lead investigator Mike Beery said the middle two units were being used for storage.
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