EVERETT — At the end of the front walk, below the dangling pieces of caution tape, people left three vases of purple and yellow tulips.
A warped, blackened door was propped against the side of the Everett home.
The home along Wetmore Avenue has been taped off as the investigation continues into a fire that killed two women early Saturday.
Investigators believe the fire had been burning for about an hour before any 911 calls were made, city spokeswoman Meghan Pembroke said. There were no smoke detectors in the house to wake the sleeping women.
They weren’t able to make it far from their beds, Pembroke said.
Firefighters arrived at the home in the 5800 block of Wetmore Avenue shortly before 6 a.m. They saw flames 30 feet high. The fire seems to have started in the living room on the west side of the house, Pembroke said. Investigators are still looking into the exact cause of the fire. However, they do not believe it was suspicious, Pembroke said.
The home was built in 1955, according to county property records. That pre-dates the requirement mandating that every homeowner must install smoke detectors.
It’s not often that Everett firefighters come across a home without detectors, Pembroke said. The Everett Fire Department has been trying to ensure that all homes are properly equipped through one of its programs. They provide free smoke detectors to low-income households and those living with a disability, Pembroke said. She said the department is working to publicize the program more on its website.
In the meantime, the best way to learn more about the program is to call the fire department at 425-257-8100.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner is expected to release the names of the two women once family members have been notified.
Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com
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