Home near Sequim destroyed by fire

People, pets escape without injury

SEQUIM — A double-wide mobile home east of Taylor-Cutoff Road was destroyed by fire July Fourth, leaving an anxious occupant waiting several minutes outside before his dog crawled to safety while the house burned.

Firefighters from Sequim-area Clallam County Fire District 3 responded to the blaze in the 300 block of Dungeness Meadows at 5:17 p.m. Thursday, Assistant Chief Dan Orr said Friday.

Orr said the fire started behind the 804-square-foot, one-bedroom structure, where a couple of computers were lying on the bed along with other items and where the fire might have started.

The blaze remained under investigation, Orr said.

Orr said owner Betty Bennett, her son, Robert Yeater, and her son’s girlfriend, Lisa Stockert lived in the mobile home.

When the fire began, Bennett and Yeater were home and Stockert was at work.

“The mom said when she walked into the back bedroom, she basically saw fire coming from a lot of stuff on the bed,” Orr said.

Bennett, Yeater and two of their three dogs escaped, leaving one pet inside that they couldn’t find.

“The son was very upset to start with just because of the dog,” Orr said.

When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke was coming from the rear of the structure but the house was crowded with items, making it difficult to maneuver equipment, which allowed the fire to spread from the bedroom to an attic, Orr said.

“The house was very full, so it was a challenge to just get into the structure and get those [hoses] pulled and do those kinds of things,” Orr said.

Crews eventually had to tear off the ceiling and siding to douse the blaze, he said.

Five or 10 minutes after firefighters arrived, with the house still on fire, the animal popped out from a hole in the floor and crawled out, Orr said.

“That kind of made it better,” Orr said of the ordeal.

The American Red Cross put up Yeater and Stockert for the night, Orr said.

Bennett was able to stay with a sister who lives nearby.

The home was covered by fire insurance, Orr said.

The land and structure are valued at $60,000, according to the county Assessor’s Office.

The contents are valued at $50,000, Orr said.

“It’s a complete loss,” he said.

“They are basically going to have to pull [the mobile home] out of there and start fresh.

“They had fire insurance, which is a good thing.”

Orr said the first arriving firefighter crew did not hear smoke detectors when they arrived.

Port Angeles-area Fire District 2 personnel assisted with Fire District 3 calls during the blaze.

Clallam County Public Utility District workers secured the home’s electrical system.

________

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
June Ward, 10, examines a wooden paddle she is decorating as her father, Jack Ward of Port Angeles, works on his own paddle during a craft-making session on Friday at the Elwha Klallam Heritage Center in Port Angeles. The paddles are among the thousands of gifts being created for participants in the 2025 Tribal Canoe Journey, hosted this year by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. The event begins with the landing of dozens of native canoes at the mouth of the Elwha River on July 31 and continues with five days of celebration on the Lower Elwha reservation west of Port Angeles. As many as 10,000 indigenous peoples are expected to take part. The public is invited to help with giftmaking sessions, scheduled daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heritage Center.
Canoe paddle crafts

June Ward, 10, examines a wooden paddle she is decorating as her… Continue reading

Ralph Henry Keil and Ginny Grimm.
Long lost sailor to be honored at graduation

An honorary diploma will be presented to the family of… Continue reading

Singers to workshop vocal instruments at Fort Worden

One hundred and fifty singers to join together in song

Jefferson County fire danger risk level to move to high

Designation will prohibit fireworks over Fourth of July weekend

Candidate forums to be presented next week

The League of Women Voters of Clallam County and… Continue reading

Port Townsend City Council candidate forum set for next month

The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County will… Continue reading

Jefferson County to host series of community conversations

Jefferson County will conduct a series of Community Conversations… Continue reading

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the Sequim Botanical Garden at the Water Reuse Demonstration Park at Carrie Blake Park on Wednesday in Sequim. Thornton, a volunteer gardener, was taking part in a work party to maintain the beauty of the garden. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Rose display

Denise Thornton of Sequim deadheads roses on a flower display at the… Continue reading

Electric rates see big increase

Jefferson proposal approved for 4-year hike

Clallam Transit to receive $4M in grants

Agency to use funds on Strait Shot and other routes

Port Angeles council OKs sidewalk near park

Applicants to receive grant funding for one-third of total cost