PORT ANGELES — Residents evacuated the Washington Apartments early Sunday as fire damaged a basement laundry room.
Most residents escaped the building by themselves, but firefighters assisted two tenants from separate units of the two-story, 14-unit, wood-frame apartment building.
The first Port Angeles Fire Department engine arrived three minutes after the fire was reported at 7:17 a.m., according to Capt. James Mason, and the fire was extinguished three minutes after that.
Damage to the building and its contents was estimated at $20,000.
Because of the cold, wet weather, 12 tenants were temporarily sheltered at the Port Angeles Fire Station. The Red Cross also assisted them.
No injuries were reported. Cause of the fire is under investigation.
