None injured as fire is knocked down quickly in Port Townsend
Published 12:01 am Friday, November 14, 2014
PORT TOWNSEND — A severe fire in a 101-year-old house Thursday was quickly contained, with damage limited to the upper floors, firefighters said.
No one was hurt at the fire at 419 Quincy St. shortly after noon, said Bill Beezley, East Jefferson Fire-Rescue spokesman.
Owners Aaron and Cathy Von Awe are in California, according to neighbors.
Police were not able to contact the couple because they do not carry a cellphone, according to Port Townsend Police Officer Luke Bogues, who added that friends of the Von Awes were attempting to contact them through Facebook.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Beezley said.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue firefighters were alerted to the fire at 12:41 p.m. after a child at Castle Hill Preschool across the street noticed a plume of smoke coming from the building.
The child told his teacher, who called 9-1-1, Beezley said.
Firefighters arrived to find flames and smoke billowing from the second story of the house and immediately began a “transitional attack,” which consists of simultaneously applying water from the exterior and interior of the house, Beezley said.
They knocked down the fire within 20 minutes, limiting fire damage to the second story and attic of the house, Beezley said.
The first floor suffered smoke, water and traffic damage, he added.
About 22 firefighters and command staff from East Jefferson-Fire Rescue, Naval Magazine Indian Island, Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue and Quilcene Fire & Rescue responded to the blaze, along with the Port Townsend Police Department.
Jefferson County Public Utility District representatives were also on hand, having shut off power to the house and eight surrounding residences before firefighters entered the building.
The power was reconnected at about 2 p.m.
Before firefighters arrived, two men formed a perimeter and used garden hoses as an attempt to limit the fire, but they did not stay around long enough to be identified, Beezley said.
