Authorities Still Seeking Cause of Chehalis Fire as Story of Rescue Emerges

Few developments have been released as the investigation into a house fire in Chehalis last week continues. 

No follow-up reports have yet been filed by investigators, but Chehalis Police Chief Glenn Schaffer said those investigating the fire are checking video footage and waiting to determine what could have caused it.

The Chehalis Fire Department responded to the house fire, located near the intersection of Southwest 11th Street and South Market Boulevard, at 5 a.m. on Sept. 15.

Upon arrival, firefighters found the home’s garage fully involved.

The occupants of the home, including a 3-year-old boy, escaped by exiting through a second-floor window, according to initial reports. 

Schaffer said first responders talked to the woman who escaped, but the male left the scene.

Law enforcement sources and neighbors have told The Chronicle the house was known for possible criminal activity. Schaffer confirmed there had been nine case reports at the address, not including the fire. He also said he did not know if the occupants of the house were the same for all of the cases. Reports included suspicious person calls, an assault and a 911 hang up, among others.

“That isn’t a clear indication of how many times we responded to that address,” Schaffer said. “That’s how many times we responded and generated a case for that address.”

Two Lewis County residents said they helped a man, a pregnant woman and the young boy escape the flames and smoke.

Nathan Reavis, 37, of Chehalis, said his co-worker Darrell Norman, 43, of Napavine, picked him up from his house that morning before they made their way to work when they noticed the smell of burnt wire.

“We saw the sky going about half a block away from my house so we hopped into the truck and headed to see the fire,” he said. “The garage was totally engulfed in flames and there were no lights in the house.”

Reavis and Norman said they began pounding on the door. No one answered, but as the men were headed back to their vehicle the window on the second floor of the house opened and they heard screaming.

“The guy started screaming ‘help,’” Reavis said, adding smoke was pouring out of the window.

Reavis said the man was able to make his way onto the covered porch with the small child while the pregnant woman exited the window. The boy was tossed down to Reavis, who said he caught the child.

As for the pregnant woman, Reavis said she was unable to get off of the covered porch. Norman said he went in search of something to help her down with.

During the commotion, Reavis said a person drove by in his Ford Escape and began assisting the woman. Reavis said the man parked his vehicle as close as he could to the house to help lessen the woman’s fall. 

Norman who had returned with a 6-foot step ladder positioned it on the vehicle, but said the woman ended up falling onto the hood of the vehicle.

“She got off the car, ran past me holding her son, screaming to her husband to get out of there because it’s going to blow,” Reavis said. 

Shortly after, the fire department showed up. Both Norman and Reavis said the couple and the child disappeared after the incident. 

The entire ordeal lasted approximately seven minutes, they said. 

“Everybody came together,” Norman said. “The guy in the Ford Escape, the neighbor’s down the road, whoever called 911… Everybody came together to make it work…. It’s about the best thing ever to think you saved a kid’s life.”

Schaffer said the initial report did not include how the people escaped the residence. Since the case is under investigation, The Chronicle was unable to obtain a copy of the report.

“It’s not really a police matter,” he said. “They are out and uninjured. Our concern is going to be how the fire started and why, more than how they got out of the house.”

Calls to officials at the Chehalis Fire Department were not returned before deadline. 

The fire caused an estimated $120,000 in damage as it destroyed the house and contents.