Sprinklers halt fire at Monroe retirement home

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, March 9, 2011

MONROE — Fire sprinklers prevented major damage and injuries at a retirement home in Monroe on Monday night.

A fire broke out just before 8:45 p.m. in a laundry room at Merrill Gardens on 179th Avenue SE.

Clothes inside a dryer ignited for an unknown reason, said Capt. Michael Fitzgerald, fire marshal for Snohomish County Fire District 3 in Monroe. A single fire sprinkler extinguished the flames in minutes.

Crews from Monroe, Sultan and Clearview responded and helped clear smoke from the building, Fitzgerald said. Patients were evacuated temporarily because of the smoke.

Damage was estimated at $15,000. Cleanup at the retirement home continued Tuesday.