House too burned to determine cause of blaze, fire chief says

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, August 16, 2011

PORT ANGELES —An investigation into the cause of last week’s fire that destroyed a home in the hills southeast of central Port Angeles hasn’t provided the family who lived there with any answers.

Fire investigators are unable to determine the exact cause of the fire, said Chief Jon Bugher of Clallam County Fire District No. 2.

The Aug. 8 fire destroyed the home of Frank and Candace Kathol at 312 Bigelow Road, just off Monroe Road in unincorporated Port Angeles.

The two-story house was fully in flames when firefighters arrived. Fire District 2 requested mutual aid from the Port Angeles Fire Department. A total of 19 firefighters with three engines and two tenders were deployed.

The family was not home at the time, and their pet cat was found safe outside of the residence.

Because the house was already afire, firefighters concentrated on saving a nearby guest house.

Investigators do not believe the fire was suspicious and has released the property back to the owners, Bugher said.

Fire District 2 investigators coordinated their investigation with the family’s insurance company, he said.