Investigators find faulty fridge cause of trailer fire

SEQUIM — A fire inside a fifth-wheel trailer that claimed the life of a 5-year-old was started by a faulty refrigerator, Clallam County Sheriff Brian King said.

Detectives and fire investigators from Clallam County Fire District 3 made the determination on March 11, King said.

There were two refrigerators, one electric and the other propane, by the trailer’s door, he said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Fire crews from both fire district 3 and Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue arrived at the fire at 7:43 p.m. March 9, in the 1300 block of Gasman Road off Old Olympic Highway to find the trailer fully involved in flames, Clallam County Fire District 3 fire chief Justin Grider said.

He added that the fire had already taken the life of the 5-year-old before firefighters could enter the trailer.

A 1-year-old was extricated from the trailer, transported to Olympic Medical Center and later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center.

An adult was outside of the trailer prior to the fire, King said.

No charges will be filed because the fire was caused by the refrigerator, he added.

A chaplain helped facilitate family members’ travel to the hospital, he said.

First responders also were provided a voluntary critical incident stress debriefing to help with any psychological impact from the incident, he said.

Along with the Sheriff’s Office and District 3, crews with Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue, East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Olympic Ambulance responded to the fire.

More in News

2024 timber revenue shows Jefferson below average, Clallam on par

DNR timber delay could impact 2025 timber revenue

Forks council looks to fill vacant seat

The Forks City Council is accepting applications to fill a… Continue reading

Charter Review town hall set

The Clallam County Charter Review Commission will conduct a… Continue reading

EYE ON BUSINESS: This week’s meetings

Breakfast meetings with networking and educational… Continue reading

Port Angeles sends letter to governor

Requests a progressive tax code

Courtesy of Rep. Emily Randall's office
Rep. Emily Randall to hold town hall in Port Townsend

Congresswoman will field questions from constituents

Joshua Wright, program director for the Legacy Forest Defense Coalition, stands in a forest plot named "Dungeness and Dragons," which is managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Currently, the DNR is evaluating Wright's claim that there is a rare plant community in one of the units, which would qualify the parcel for automatic protection from logging. Locating rare plant communities is just one of the methods environmental activists use to protect what they call "legacy forests." (Joshua Wright)
Activists answer call to protect forests

Advocacy continues beyond timber auctions

Port of Port Angeles talks project status

Marine Trade Center work close to completion

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
The Rayonier #4 logging locomotive on display at Chase Street and Lauridsen Boulevard in Port Angeles, is the focus of a fundraising drive to restore the engine and further develop the site.
Locomotive viewing event scheduled for Sunday

“Restore the 4” project underway

Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News
Port Townsend High School culinary arts student Jasper Ziese, left, watches as fellow students Emil Brown sauces the dish and Raivyn Johnson, right, waits to box it up. The students prepared and served a free lunch from the program's food truck, Culinary Cruiser, for a senior project on Saturday.
Culinary Cruiser delivers practical experience for Port Townsend students

Part of Career and Technical Education culinary arts program

PC’s enrollment rates show steady growth

Numbers reverse ten-year trend