Lake Stevens man in critical condtion after fire

Published 10:53 pm Friday, June 4, 2010

LAKE STEVENS — A man was listed in critical condition at a Seattle hospital Friday after suffering smoke inhalation and burns in an early morning fire.

Firefighters found him unconscious and not breathing in a first-floor room. They were able to revive him with CPR, Lake Stevens Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said.

The fire was reported around 4:50 a.m. in the 1900 block of Machias Road.

Fire investigators believe the man taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle had been smoking and drinking in his room, Marshall said.

He suffered second- and third-degree burns to his right arm.

Three people, all believed to be in their early 60s, were at the house at the time, Marshall said. They were renting the home.

One man who couldn’t get down the smoky stairwell was rescued from a second-floor room by firefighters using a ladder truck.

“He was at the window yelling he needed help to get out,” Marshall said.

A woman on the first floor was able to walk out the front door.

Most of the structural damage was contained to the man’s room, but there was smoke and heat damage to other parts of the house. Damage was estimated at $40,000.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.