[1]Sunday morning fire off of Old Highway 99 in Grand Mound / Courtesy photo
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The cause of a fire that tore through a Grand Mound home early yesterday morning remains under investigation, and a family pet is getting credit as the primary alert system that helped the residents escape unharmed.
Firefighters called at 6:10 a.m. yesterday to the 21700 block of Old Highway 99 found flames already rising through the roof, according to West Thurston Regional Fire Authority.
Children reside there but were away, Fire Chief Russ Kaliewahea said this morning. Two adults were awakened by their dog, he said.
“It started barking, bouncing off the furniture as it was described to me,” Kaliewahea said. “Going berserk, trying to alert them.”
Once the crew knew everyone was out, the fire was fought defensively, according to the fire department.
They were assisted by personnel from Thurston County Fire Districts 12, 6 and 9.
“The occupant said there were smoke detectors, but did not recall them going off or hearing them,” Kaliewahea said.
The chief said it appeared the fire began in an area that contained a furnace, a hot water heater and a clothes dryer, so it’s not yet clear what may have ignited it.
The single-story, double-wide home is a complete loss, he said. He estimated about $90,000 damage.