Posted: May 12, 2008 13:03:53 PST
Five Bellingham Fire Department engine crews responded to an apartment complex located at 1420 Birchwood Avenue late Sunday night. The fire was reported by several neighbors at approximately 10:38 PM. First arriving fire crews found heavy smoke and high heat conditions in a ground floor apartment. The involved unit sustained substantial damage from smoke and heat with three additional units sustaining smoke damage. An unidentified adult male perished in the fire. The victim's body has been released to the medical examiner for identification. The cause of the fire is under investigation with preliminary reports indicating bedding coming in contact with a wall heater being suspect.
The "take home" safety message in this tragedy relates to installing working smoke detectors in sleeping quarters. Every bedroom needs a working smoke detector tested at least monthly.
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Media Contact:
Roger Christensen, Assistant Fire Chief
Bellingham Fire Department
360-778-8412
rchristensen@cob.org
