Updated at 10:46 a.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
An early morning fire chased a Centralia household onto the street, pretty much destroying their home, according to Riverside Fire Authority.
“There may be a few salvageable items, but not much,” Fire Capt. Greg Schwartz said.
Nobody was hurt, the cause is under investigation, Schwartz said.
Crews were called at 4:22 a.m. about a possible structure fire on the 900 block of B Street, according to the fire department.
“As we left the station and turned the corner headed north, we could see a huge glow in the sky and a smoke column,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz said it was a single family home with some type of a garage or outbuilding very close to its backside, which is where the fire seems to have started.
The man who lives there said he got up to use the restroom.
“I think he said he smelled smoke, and opened the back door and flames kind of licked at him as he opened the door,” Schwartz said.
He and the woman who resides there are being taken care of by the Red Cross, Schwartz said.
About 15 firefighters, including a crew from the Chehalis Fire Department extinguished the blaze, he said.
The fire is currently being investigated by the joint CPD/RFA Arson Investigation Team, according to the Centralia Police Department.