Submitted by Lopez Island Fire and EMS.

On Monday, Nov. 4, at 11:04 p.m., Lopez Fire and EMS responded to a structure fire on Pickering Lane. The fire was called into 911 by the residents after they were awoken by their smoke detectors and unable to escape from the structure. The first arriving unit found that all residents were able to exit the structure on their own.

The front door access to the home was blocked by flames, a hose line was pulled and the flames were knocked down. Fire personnel then pulled the ceiling to reveal hidden fire in the attic, which was quickly extinguished. Residents stated that one of them was woken up by the smoke detector in the home and found flames outside of their bedroom window. They then woke up the other person in the home and tried to exit through the front door. They encountered extreme heat through the doorknob and determined they could not leave that way. Having no other door to exit, 911 was called, where they stated they were trapped. Both residents then decided to climb out a second-story bathroom window to safety. They then joined a neighbor in attempting to fight the fire with a garden hose. Lopez Fire and EMS was assisted by OPALCO.

Lopez Fire and EMS and the San Juan County Fire Marshall investigated and determined the cause to be a hot charcoal briquette barbecue left unattended on the front porch.

Two residents and a neighbor were injured, all were treated on scene by EMS, with no need for transport. A dog belonging to the residents perished in the fire.

This is a good example of how having working smoke detectors in your home can save lives, reduce the chance for injuries and decrease home damage in the case of a fire.