House destroyed, cats missing after fire outside Monroe

Published 10:25 pm Tuesday, December 1, 2009

MONROE — A family’s home was destroyed and their cats were missing after a blaze Tuesday afternoon.

Crews could see smoke as they arrived at a house off Cherry Valley Road south of Monroe about 12:30 p.m., Monroe Fire District spokeswoman Richelle Risdon said.

The house was engulfed in flames. Firefighters attacked the blaze from the outside. Crews had a hard time getting their firefighting equipment close to the house.

“It was a very long, steep and narrow driveway. It was extremely difficult access for firefighters,” Risdon said. She urged people with long driveways to mark their address on the main road.

Everyone who was at home got out safely, but the homeowner’s cats weren’t immediately found.

It took crews more than an hour to knock down the flames. A Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office investigator estimated the damage at $250,000. The fire started in the family room, but the cause was still under investigation later on Tuesday, Risdon said.