EVERETT – Firefighters credit the quick thinking of residents for preventing an apartment fire from spreading Thursday morning in Everett.
At 5:15 a.m. Thursday, the Everett Fire Department responded to a report of an apartment fire at Shilo Village Apartments in the 1900 block of W. Casino Road. Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire within a ground-level apartment’s bedroom, preventing further spread to adjacent units.
A smoke alarm woke one of the residents, who alerted the other family members of the fire, allowing them to evacuate quickly, according to a press release. The decision to close the bedroom door at the source of the fire played a critical role in containing the fire and limiting damage to the apartment.
No injuries were reported. The Red Cross is assisting three people who were displaced by the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Everett Fire Marshal’s Office.
The Everett Fire Department urges residents to make sure their smoke alarms are functioning and to develop a fire escape plan that includes the practice of closing doors behind you when evacuating.
Closing doors during a fire evacuation does the following, the department said:
• Limits fire spread: Closed doors can contain a fire, significantly reducing its ability to spread. If you need to evacuate from a fire, try to close doors behind you as you escape.
• Minimizes damage: A closed door helps keep a fire contained and limits the amount of oxygen to feed a fire, which helps reduce the damage to your property.
• Controls heat and smoke: A closed door can limit the spread of smoke and flames and keep the temperature lower in the room.
• Increases survival chances: If you find yourself trapped, a closed door is a barrier against smoke and flames, enhancing your survival chances and giving firefighters the time they need to rescue you.
Michael Henneke: 425-339-3431; michael.henneke@heraldnet.com; X: @ihenpecked.
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