SEQUIM — When Diana Elliott first heard the crackling on the other side of her apartment wall around 6 a.m. Wednesday, she thought it was just one of her neighbors in the laundry room, doing an early morning load of clothes as usual.

The noise seemed unusually loud, but she chalked it up to something banging around in the dryer.

Then she was startled by loud voices outside and someone banging on her door.

“Fire!” they shouted. “Fire in the building!”

She ran out the door clad in a robe and a blanket. Many of her neighbors were caught in bed as well, evacuating their apartments in pajamas and bare feet.

And then they watched as the Grey Wolf River Apartments building at 140 E. Washington St. in downtown Sequim burned, flames scorching many of the 14 apartments and smoke infiltrating almost every corner of the building.

In all, eight fire engines and two ladder trucks responded from Sequim, Carlsborg, Port Angeles, Port Townsend and unincorporated Jefferson County.

They used 53 gallons of flame-retardant foam and 50,000 gallons of water to put out one of the worst fires Sequim has seen in more than 15 years.

No one was injured, although a cat that reportedly escaped the fire was still missing Wednesday afternoon.

The Red Cross reported to be helping 10 households Wednesday afternoon, although an exact number of people routed by the fire was unavailable from authorities.

Began in laundry room?

Fire officials said the blaze most likely started in a laundry room/utility area close to the center of the L-shaped building and was probably ignited by an electrical problem.

The flames spread quickly in the attic above the apartments, said Richard Vogel, chief of Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3.

Several units were severely damaged, and the ceiling collapsed in several places.

“Our biggest problem with fighting this fire — it used to be a flat roof on this, and they put an A-frame [roof] on it with no fire breaks,” he said.

Sections of the apartment building were built at different times in the 1920s, ’30s and ’50s, he said, before there were codes to regulate fire safety.

The flames also drove out two businesses — a hair salon and a florist — that leased space on the first floor of the building facing Washington Street.

Both business owners said they will reopen in new locations.

HOW TO HELP

THE RED CROSS is accepting monetary donations to help provide vouchers for food, clothing and shelter. Call 360-457-7933.

Adventist Community Services has household items available, and can accept small donations such as dishes. They do not have space to store largest items.

The Sequim Veterans of Foreign Wars organization is accepting clothing donations. There is a particular need for women’s and children’s clothing. Call 360-681-0434.

________

The apartment of Peninsula Daily News Sequim Local News Editor Alan Choate suffered heavy smoke and water damage in Wednesday’s fire, and many of his belongings were destroyed.

We appreciate his professionalism in compiling this report and taking many of today’s photos during obviously a difficult personal time for him.

Rex Wilson, executive editor