Residents jump out of windows to escape Lake Stevens apartment fire

LAKE STEVENS — Residents had to jump from windows to escape a Wednesday morning fire in Lake Stevens that damaged eight apartments, fire officials said.

At 1:47 a.m., firefighters responded to a fire in the 1600 block of 127th Avenue NE in Lake Stevens, according to Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue. Witnesses reported residents jumping from second-story windows to escape.

“The fire was so strong that people felt like they had to jump,” Snohomish Regional spokesperson Peter Mongillo said. “We told them that firefighters were on the way, but they jumped anyway.”

Firefighters found two people who had jumped from the second story. Both had minor injuries, according to the fire department. In total, four people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Mongillo said.

In the back of the building, a resident was reportedly hanging out a window, with smoke billowing out from inside. Crews used a ladder to assist the person down.

Smoke and fire poured out of most of the windows, according to the department. Firefighters found an older person in a closed bedroom, Mongillo said. They brought that person outside.

Once all the people were out of the apartments, crews were notified of three cats hiding inside. All three cats were rescued.

It took four hours to extinguish the fire, Mongillo said. The fire didn’t spread to any surrounding buildings.

Mongillo didn’t know how many people were displaced.

Snohomish County fire marshals were investigating the cause of the fire.

Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue warned people should plan and practice their fire escape.

Sleeping with bedroom doors greatly increases your chance of survival, Mongillo said. When the door is left open the inside of a bedroom can be consumed by the fire within seconds.

Jonathan Tall: 425-339-3486; jonathan.tall@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @snocojon.