Fire Destroys Home in Unincorporated Lynnwood

About half a dozen people safely escaped a fire that destroyed a home in south Snohomish County early this morning.

At about 2:15 a.m., dispatchers received multiple reports of flames coming from a two-story house in the 1800 block of 204th Pl. SW in an unincorporated area east of Lynnwood, according to a news release from Snohomish County Fire District 1.

"When firefighters arrived, the house was engulfed in flames and the fire had spread to two vehicles parked in the back yard," said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for the fire district.

Firefighters quickly called for a second alarm. At the peak of the fire, about 32 firefighters were on the scene including crews from Fire District 1, Lynnwood and Bothell. No one was injured.

The man who rents the house told firefighters six to eight people were inside the house when the fire broke out. All made it out safely, but two dogs are unaccounted for. Red Cross and Support 7 is assisting the renter and two other occupants.

"Because the fire was so large and the structure was already so heavily damaged when firefighters arrived, it was unsafe for crews to enter and they had to fight the flames from the outside," Hynes said.

Firefighters had the fire under control in about 30 minutes, but were expected to remain on the scene throughout the morning to deal with hot spots, she said.

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal's Office is investigating how the fire started. They expect the investigation to last into the afternoon. The house is a total loss.