A Toppenish woman and her three children narrowly escaped injury when their home at 316 N. Alder St. was destroyed by fire in the early morning hours of Nov. 30.
A Toppenish Fire Department report said failed electrical wiring was the cause of a fire that started in the attic area above one of the bedrooms in the home.
The mother of the three children told fire fighters she was awakened at about 2:15 a.m. by distinct popping and crackling sounds above the ceiling in her bedroom.
She awakened her children and exited the home just minutes before the ceiling in one of her children’s bedroom collapsed onto the bed.
The mother called firefighters from her cell phone, the report said.
Firefighters arrived at the scene of the blaze at 2:27 a.m. to find smoke and fire coming from the roof of the structure and one bedroom window.
Eight firemen operated two engines and one ladder truck to fight the blaze, which took about 40 minutes to control.
Responders then took several hours extinguishing smoldering debris, according to the report.
The structure and its contents were declared a total loss, with damages estimated at $65,000 for the structure and $20,000 for the contents.
The report said the family living in the house did not have renter’s insurance, and were being assisted by the Yakima Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Yakama Indian Nation.
The 100-year-old structure was owned by Lloyd Cook Rentals LLC of Toppenish, and was insured, the report said.
Toppenish Fire Chief Tim Smith encouraged all area residents to be extremely cautious with the use of Christmas lights, extension cords, and portable electric heaters.
Misuse of these items can overload electrical circuits and cause fires.
Smith also reminded residents to clean chimneys regularly and be sure to check batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.