PORT ANGELES – Investigators are continuing their search into the cause of a spectacular fire early Monday that destroyed a three-apartment building on East 10th Street.
Three people – one in each unit – fled the 1:18 a.m. fire, which destroyed the wood-frame house-turned-apartment building.
The cause of the fire at 535 E. 10th St., near Albert Street, was being investigated Monday afternoon.
“We strongly suspect that the fire began on the ground floor or basement level,” said Fire Marshal Ken Dubuc.
Kate Warich, who was in the upper unit, jumped from a second-story window with assistance of Port Angeles police officers Dan Morse and Kevin Spencer.
Warich and Joshua Rorebeck, a volunteer with Port Angeles Fire Department, were transported to Olympic Medical Center.
Warich suffered smoke inhalation, and Rorebeck was checked for heat exhaustion.
Both were treated and discharged.
Neither of the other two residents who were home at the time of the fire – or two dogs also in the apartments – were injured.
