Cascade West Apartment Fire-Mount Vernon, WA

 

Mount Vernon, WA:  11:36 pm on July 1st, 2014, Skagit County 9-1-1 dispatchers  received multiple calls about an apartment fire at the Cascade West Apartments located at 1617 North 26th street in Mount Vernon. Arriving Firefighters were faced with heavy smoke and flames from 3 floors.  A Mount Vernon Police officer was treated at the scene for hand injuries after he broke glass attempting to get people out of the building. Early reports also say the officer may have been injured when a propane tank exploded. Four other people were sent to the hospital. Two adults and a 6 year old child did not hear the fire alarm or know there was a fire. Firefighters rescued them from the burning building and they were transported to Skagit Valley Hospital for smoke inhalation.  Police spokeswoman, Shannon Haigh, says another man was found about two hours after the fire started and was transported via Airlift Northwest med flight to Harborview Medical Center where he is listed in Serious Condition with burns to his airway and on his body.

Firefighters from Mount Vernon, Burlington, Cedardale, McLean Road, Big Lake and Clear Lake Fire all responded to assist with the fire. The Washington State Patrol, Mount Vernon Police, Mount Vernon Police volunteers (Traffic control), Skagit County Sheriff,  PSE  and the Red Cross all responded. The fire was declared under control about 80 minutes after it was reported. Chief Hari expected  crews to be on scene for hours. The initial  investigation shows that the fire most likely started on a balcony on the 1st or 2nd floor. The investigation continues.

Approximately 200 people have been displaced, and about 75 of them are being sheltered at the nearby Skagit Valley College with help from the Red Cross.  125 residents stayed with family or friends.  Many were left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.

Mount Vernon Fire Chief Roy Hari says all 38 units in the building were affected by either smoke, water or fire damage.

 

  Here is a timeline of the fire: 

*11:36 pm. Mount Vernon Fire Units,  111, 117, 125, 131, Battalion Chief 1, and Rehab 1 were dispatched.  mount Vernon Police were also dispatched.

Mount Vernon Officer X-Ray 57 arrived within moments and reported fire from the 3rd floor of the apartment complex, requested Fire Department

Mount Vernon Officer X-Ray 16 requested X-Ray 57 to initiate evacuations

*11:42 pm.  Responding Mount Veron Fire Units  request a 2nd Alarm

Mount Vernon Officers tell dispatch, many residents running down the stairs, evacuating.

*11:44 pm. Burlington Engine 1811 and McLean Road Engine 211 Toned for 2nd Alarm.

*11:47 pm. Command Requests Big Lake, Clear Lake and Cedardale Fire toned for mutual Aid.

*11:48 pm: Clear Lake Fire, Big Lake Fire and Cedardale are toned for 3rd alarm.

Fire units advised multiple people possibly trapped in two separate apartments.

*11:49 pm: McLean road engine 211 re-toned for mutual aid.  201 advised he was previously en route to station.

*11:49 pm: Med 2 requested to respond to fire for possible trapped persons.

L.E. requests roads closed around the area. DOT, WSP and County Units.

*11:51 pm: Burlington Ladder 1815 requested in 4th alarm, as per units on scene. Requesting additional ladder truck.

*11:53 pm:  Big Lake fire re-toned to respond to the Fire.

*11:54 pm: Burlington Fire requested to back fill stations to man other calls.

*11:57 pm:  command requests 2 med units. Dispatch advises 321, 921, 911, 421 and 215 all en route.

*11:58 pm: Med 1 and Med 4 requested to respond to fire

11:59 pm: Mount Vernon 131 Reports they are coming out with 1 person rescued, crews going back in for 2nd person. 421 requested to assist.

12:00 am: Med 4 re-toned to respond to fire

12:04 am:  1st Floor Primary Search Completed. 2nd Floor Smoke Level down to 2 feet. Search in Progress of 2nd floor.

12:09 am : Battalion 3 and 321 toned to a MVC on College Way between Ford Hall and  the Community College Center. (essentially in the fire scene.)  Subject drove his van on side walk and hit some stuff. 70-80  year old driver. Unknown where the vehicle came from or why he was driving between the college building or on the sidewalk.

12:09 am: Mount Vernon 131 reporting they have 2nd victim they are bringing out of the building. Big Lake requested to go in to help.

12:12 am: Med 2 en route with two patients to Skagit Valley hospital

12:13 am: Big Lake Engine 911 crew entering the building

12:14 am: 3rd Patient walked out of the building with 131 crew

12:18 am: Big Lake E-911 crew reporting heavy fire damage to room 332, attempting to gain access.

12:20 am: Woman reporting a missing person from fire

12:46 am: Clear Lake Rehab 417 toned to respond for rehab.

12:51 am: Clear Lake rehab  417 re-toned to respond for  rehab.

1:00 am: 80 minute benchmark-Fire under control, all firefighters accounted for. Units in overhaul.

1:24 am: Last person  removed from fire with burns to his airway and other parts of his body.

1:28 am: Med 4 requested to return to scene, so med 2 can transport priority patient.

 

 

Contributors to this story are: Daniel Nunez, Elizabeth Beaver and Michell Myers.   2014 Skagit Breaking