Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> Mark Mulligan/The Herald  (click to enlarge) Dawn Taylor is treated for smoke inhalation Wednesday evening at Lakewood Elementary School north of Marysville. As one of the first people on the scene, Taylor helped fight the blaze with fire extinguishers before the fire department arrived.  Photo Gallery: Lakewood Elementary Fire   ADVERTISEMENT   Reward offered There will be up to a $10,000 reward offered through the Arson Alarm Foundation for information on Wednesday night's fire at Lakewood Elementary. Call 800-55-ARSON.   Related Stories • Boy arrested in Lakewood school arson 7/28/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008 5 moms battle Lakewood Elementary School fire By Eric Stevick Herald Writer LAKEWOOD -- An arson fire Wednesday night that caused an estimated $150,000 damage to Lakewood Elementary School could have been a lot worse were it not for the quick action of five fearless moms. The north Snohomish County women were watching their school-aged sons' football practice nearby when they noticed black smoke about 6:45 p.m. They called 911, raced over to the school, broke windows to get fire extinguishers and worked furiously to prevent the flames from reaching the roof. "When we got here, the flames were ridiculous," said Tracy Melton, who sprayed water on the fire. "The heat was so bad." She and friend Terri Virdell were walking around the Lakewood High School track when they first saw the smoke. By the time they arrived, they could hear a "pop, pop, pop" sound. A man who lives near the school ran home and brought back a fire extinguisher that was used to break the first window to get into the building. From there, the moms armed themselves with extinguishers from the school and teamed up to battle the blaze until more than a dozen firefighters arrived. "They definitely helped to contain it," said Stephanie Price, a spokeswoman for the Marysville Fire District. It was minutes from being a large-scale attic fire in the school." The Snohomish County Fire Marshal's Office reported it was an arson fire, Price said. "It looked like it was started by a combustible on the outside of the building." Fred Owyen, the Lakewood School District's director of operations, was thankful for the vigilant mothers. "Their quick response, I think, made a huge difference," he said. The area damaged by fire was part of a $2.3 million addition completed in 2005. The project included a four-classroom wing and renovation of the 1958 portion of the school's main building, which is being converted into a library, computer lab and staff areas. Owyen said it was too early to have a firm damage estimate. Dawn Taylor, one of the mothers, was treated for smoke inhalation after helping fight the fire. "It was such a shock to see how big it was," she said. "I was just praying that we could save it. I was worried about it getting into the roof." Jamie Miller ran into the rooms to retrieve the fire extinguishers for Melton and Taylor. She said she kept thinking how important the school is to the Lakewood community and how the students will need the classrooms in the fall. Angela Ramirez, who had been watching at her son's practice in her business clothes, ran to the school in her black, pointy-toed high heels. "This is not something you do every day, breaking windows to a school, but you have your adrenaline pumping" she said. "I was thinking, 'Holy cow, this is it. We have to get it down.'" Ramirez had extra incentive. Her daughter, Iliana, 5, will be in kindergarten at Lakewood Elementary in the fall. Christian Melton, 14, was at football practice when his mom rushed off. He came by the elementary school afterward in a No. 6 maroon jersey to find out his mother had helped contain the fire. "She is a stud," he said. "I think it's amazing." By 9:30 p.m., things were returning to normal in the Melton household. Tracy Melton was making pork chops, macaroni and salad for dinner. "Football players get real hungry," she said. Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or e-mail stevick@heraldnet.com.

1. Big rig crash shuts down 41st Street onramp to I-5 2. Race for governor will be another close fight 3. Here's your 12-day Evergreen State Fair planner 4. IRS attempts to seize homes of Arlington woman accused of embezzlement 5. Longtime Herald photographer Jim Leo honored with lights and sirens 6. The Herald restructures, cuts 10 jobs 7. Big workload for Frye 8. Everett Guard members prepare for deployment to Iraq 9. Incumbent Eric Lucas holds slim lead over David Hulbert in Snohomish County Superior Court race 10. Rep. Rick Larsen and former sheriff Rick Bart advance in 2nd Congressional District race 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Clean water is not enough • Mill Creek's dream season ends • 'Old guard' resigns en masse • Politicians threaten senior center board • Mill Creek loses to Hawaii in Little League World Series U.S. semifinal ... • King County Sheriff Office gets new eye in the sky • McAuliffe holding big lead in early Primary returns • Roberts, Liias romp in 21st • Budget crisis looms in Edmonds • Mary Burns, Owner - The BookWorks • (No heading) • August 1998: Leisure trips include sailing on the Cutty Sark; relaxing a ... • Haggen Pharmacy robot fills prescriptions — safely • $45 million expansion underway for Arlington’s Cascade Valley Hospital, ... • Alternative health care options proving worth, moving from fringe to mai ... • Boeing new 777 freighter makes its first test flight from Paine Field • New Wine Styles shop in Marysville offers wine tasting, lunches and a vi ...