Press Release
At 5 pm on Sunday, August 22nd Mason County Fire District 2 was called to a report of a structure fire on Highway 3 just south of Judy Lane in Belfair.
A mother and her four children were at the mobile home at the time of the fire. They were alerted when they heard smoke detectors going off and saw smoke quickly filling up the house. It is believed that the fire started on a deck in the front of the house and then entered the home. All occupants were able to safely exit the home with the exception of an 11 month old infant who was in a crib in the rear of the home.
Before emergency units could arrive, a passerby on Highway 3 saw flames coming from the house and stopped to help. The passerby found the mother at the rear of the home attempting to make entry to rescue the infant. With a rear door locked the passerby entered a smoke filled bedroom through a window and pulled the infant from her crib. While inside the room the front of the home exploded into flames and the rear bedroom instantly went dark with smoke. The passerby and infant were able to escape the bedroom through the outside window seconds before the fire consumed it.
15 firefighters from Fire Districts 2, 5 and 8 were able to get the fire under control in 15 minutes. Damage to the home and two nearby vehicles was estimated at $75,000. Investigators from Fire District 2 and the Mason County Fire Marshal’s office are currently investigating the fire.
The entire family was checked by paramedics on scene and released. The American Red Cross is currently assisting the family with housing needs. The home was not insured at the time of the fire. Mason County Fire District 2 has set up an account for monetary donations for the family at Olympia Federal Savings (Po Box 337, Belfair, 98528). Clothing and other non monetary donations are being accepted by the Belfair Community Baptist Church.
* Mason County Fire District 2 will be awarding the passerby with its Valor Award at noon on Wednesday August 25th at the Monthly North Mason Chamber Luncheon. The Luncheon is located at the Theler Community Center.
Beau Bakken, Fire Chief, 360-275-6711 ext 1, Jeromy Hicks, PIO, 360-275-6711 ext 2
