SEQUIM — Clallam County Fire District 3 investigators have concluded an overloaded extension cord caused a fire last Monday that destroyed a home and left a Sequim couple homeless.
Assistant Fire Chief Roger Moeder, who is the district fire marshal, said Monday the cord was located in the garage, which was ablaze when firefighters arrived at the home, 124 Fitzgerald Road, off Old Olympic Highway.
Smoke and heat from the fire destroyed the living quarters and furniture in the small house.
The homeowners, Brent and Lacey Lovell, were referred to the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Red Cross for temporary shelter and other assistance.
“In addition to the physical damage, the cord was sized too small for the power load it was carrying and had items placed on top of the cord that insulated it, allowing the heat to build up and eventually fail,” Fire District spokesman Patrick Young said of Moeder’s report.
No one was hurt when a fire broke out shortly before 12:17 p.m. when it was reported.
The fire was extinguished after fire district water tankers rolled into the neighborhood not served by fire hydrants.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.