The mechanics in the lid of an aquarium were determined to be the source of a fire that damaged a Lynnwood-area home this morning and "could have been deadly," had a smoke alarm not awakened a man sleeping in the home, fire officials said.
A man safely escaped from the burning house north of Lynnwood after being awakened by a smoke alarm this morning, March 6.
The man climbed out his bedroom window and called 9-1-1 from a cell phone to report the fire in his family’s single-story house in the 2200 block of 136th Pl. SW at 10:23 a.m.
“The house was full of heavy black smoke. Without a smoke alarm, this fire could have been deadly,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1.
Firefighters from Fire District 1 and Mukilteo responded and quickly brought the fire under control. They also rescued two dogs from the smoke-filled house. “The dogs were covered with soot and scared, but appeared to be in good health,” Hynes said.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries. Both were transported to Providence Regional Medical Center to undergo precautionary examinations.
An investigator from the Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire started in the mechanical system inside the lid of a fish aquarium in the living room.
Firefighters kept the fire contained to the living room, but there was smoke damage throughout the house. Damage is estimated at $35,000. The four residents—the man who escaped the fire, his teenage sister and his parents, who own the house—will have to stay elsewhere until repairs can be made. The family has insurance.
Change your clock, change your battery
“This fire illustrates the importance of keeping your smoke alarms in working order,” Hynes said. “When you change your clock to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, take the time to change your smoke alarm batteries too.”
Fire District 1 offers these smoke alarm safety tips:
· Place a smoke alarm on the ceiling of every level of your home and in every bedroom.
· Check smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button.
· Never take smoke alarm batteries out to put into other items like games or remote controls.
· Most alarms need a new battery at least once a year. Some smoke alarms have batteries that last for up to 10 years.
· Smoke alarms should be replaced if they are more than 10 years old.
--Information from Fire District 1
