Fire kills woman in Everett

EVERETT — A woman killed in a fire late Wednesday was a longtime resident of Everett.

The fire broke out around 10:05 p.m. at a small single-story house on the grounds of the Snohomish County branch of the American Red Cross, in the 2500 block of Lombard Avenue.

Flames broke through the walls, shattered windows and charred furniture that ended up on the front porch. Everett fire crews had the flames under control 12 minutes after the first 911 call, according to the Everett Fire Department.

A woman was found dead in the living room, where the fire was most intense. She lived at the home for many years, likely more than a decade, said Betsy Robertson, a regional spokeswoman for the Red Cross.

The home is owned by the Red Cross, and rented out through a local property management company. A disaster relief trailer sat parked feet from the home’s south side. It was singed by the heat.

Authorities were investigating how the fire was sparked.

“Today is a very sad day,” Robertson said. “The people who work here are absolutely devastated. They did not sleep last night.”

The identity of the woman was expected to be confirmed and released by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Each day Red Cross relief workers respond to house fires across Washington, the most common reason people call for their help. In a fatal fire, their focus turns to helping and comforting the family of the deceased. This time, the tragedy was literally in their back yard.

“It really emphasizes the point that no one is immune to home fires,” Robertson said. “They can happen to everyone. We should all be taking precautions.”

Caleb Hutton: 425-339-3454; chutton@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snocaleb.