December 26, 2001 * 01-96-01

(SUQUAMISH, Kitsap County) -- A Suquamish single mother and her family lost several pets and most of their posessions in a fire -- thought to have been sparked by a string of Christmas lights -- early this morning.

North Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews were dispatched to the Young residence on Pear Street at 3:54am. Arriving at the scene about five minutes later, firefighters saw flames coming from the small house's open front door. A police officer told them that all occupants were safely evacuated and crews quickly extinguished the fire. According to the occupant, she was alerted to the danger by a six-week old puppy whose restlessness and wimpering awakened her. Upon investigating the sound of breaking glass and discovering fire in the living room area, the woman returned to the home's sleeping areas to roust her two daughters, aged ten and fifteen years, and grab the puppy. The woman's five year-old daughter -- who was sleeping in the living room -- was awakened by her mother's shouts but apparently remained frozen in fear until she was collected as the family made their way out the front door. A six year-old boy also lived in the home, but was spending the night elsewhere. Fire was already spreading across the ceiling as they exited the structure, they said. The mother called 9-1-1 from a cellular phone once the family was safely outside.

According to fire officials, the family members were more than fortunate to have escaped since crews found no smoke alarms in the residence. Although fire damage was limited to the living room, heat and smoke damage affected the entire structure and nearly all of the family's posessions. Firefighters found the front door open upon their arrival and believe that the fire's growth may have been accelerated by the influx of fresh air. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians but two of the family's three dogs and a guinea pig perished in the blaze.

The family will be staying with relatives until they locate new housing, and the West Sound Chapter of the American Red Cross is providing immediate assistance. Additionally, members of the Young's church have established a fund to help the family -- who rented the home and did not have tenant's insurance -- to replace their clothing and household goods. Space constraints prevent the church from accepting material donations on behalf of the family, but checks can be sent to: