Lacey firefighters responded to two residential fires this week that resulted in the deaths of three pets.
Fire crews responded to a fire at a four-unit apartment building on the 500 block of Pacific Highway Southeast, next to the Nisqually River, just after 8 a.m. Thursday and got it under control in about 20 minutes, Lacey Fire District 3 Chief Steve Brooks told The Olympian.
One occupant suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene, Brooks said. Unfortunately, he said a cat and a dog died of smoke inhalation.
The fire started in a central apartment unit before spreading to the attic and adjacent apartment units, Brooks said.
"The primary unit where it began is heavily damaged," Brooks said. "We're not able to identify where it started right now, so we have to continue to investigate."
The damage was so extensive that residents were unable to return to the building, he said. The American Red Cross is assisting residents from all four apartments, he added.
Brooks said there were no fire hydrants close to the apartments, so Lacey fire crews relied on mutual aid support for water.
At least three other fire districts sent water tenders, including East Olympia Fire District 6, South Bay Fire District 8 and McLane Black Lake Fire Department, according to a Lacey Fire District 3 Facebook post.
The Olympia Fire Department covered additional calls while Lacey Fire District 3 was busy with the blaze, the post says.
Lacey fire crews responded to another fire at a duplex on the 4400 block of Roxanna Loop Southeast after 6 p.m. Tuesday.
That fire started in the kitchen area of one unit and fire crews put it out in about 20 minutes, Brooks said. No people were injured, but Brooks said a dog died from smoke inhalation after being rescued from a bedroom.
"We carry equipment for pet first aid on our vehicles," Brooks said. "They gave the dog oxygen and CPR, but they were not able to revive it."
Brooks said the affected unit suffered extensive damage that prevented residents from reoccupying the home. He said those residents declined help from Red Cross and made their own housing arrangements.
The residents of the other unit in the duplex were able to return to their home, he added.
The causes of both residential fires remained under investigation as of Thursday afternoon, Brooks said.
"It's always a great reminder to ensure you have working smoke detectors," Brooks said. "That's probably the best takeaway message from all of these."
Notably, Lacey Fire District 3 crews responded to the Tuesday fire just after they concluded their 75th Anniversary celebration.
