A Greenbank man died in a garage fire two days before Christmas, according to Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue.
Interim Fire Chief Jerry Helm said crews responded to a report of the garage fire in the Lagoon Point neighborhood at about 5 p.m. on Dec. 23. Firefighters were notified ahead of time that someone might be inside the two-car detached garage, but the structure was fully involved in flames and partially collapsed when crews arrived.
The Island County Coroner’s Office hasn’t made a positive identification on the man yet.
“This was a tragic event and the fire district would like to express its heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family and the community of Lagoon Point,” Helm said.
Firefighters were also concerned about two other residents who were unaccounted for at the scene, but they later arrived safely.
The fire extended to the nearby modular house. Helm said the house was a total loss, but fire crews were able to extinguish the fire and prevent significant damage to two neighboring houses that are also close to the garage.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but the man apparently ran a home business out of the garage. A fire investigator with Central Whidbey Fire is working with the Island County Sheriff’s Office to try to determine how it started.
A total of 15 firefighters from Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue and South Whidbey Fire/EMS responded to the scene, along with Whidbey Health EMS, Island County Sheriff’s Office and the American Red Cross.
In addition to the proximity to Christmas, Helm said, the tragedy was especially hard on crews who were worn out from battling another significant fire the day before.
On Dec. 22, firefighters from Central Whidbey and South Whidbey Fire/EMS responded to a fire at a Honeymoon Bay Road house in the snow and freezing weather. A chimney fire extended into the attic and the ceiling. The freezing weather made the response difficult as ice covered everything from a slippery, steep driveway to hand tools and breathing apparatus.
Photo provided A Greenbank man was killed in a garage fire Dec. 23.
