Lynnwood apartment fire displaces more than a dozen people, investigated as arson
LYNNWOOD, Wash. - More than a dozen people were displaced Tuesday morning after police say someone set a car on fire intentionally the fire spreading to a two-alarm fire at a Lynnwood apartment
The fire happened in the 19300 block of 46th Avenue West, at the Trinity Place Apartments around 12:18 a.m.
South County Fire officials rushed to the scene where the three-story building was fully engulfed.
Fox 13 spoke with residents awakened by the flames.
One of them said, "All I heard was a loud explosion, it shook the entire building and all the way up to the top floor."
The resident recalls opening her door and seeing the flames going up the side of the wall.
Brad Cross, who lives next door says he was worried about a potential spread.
"I was a little concerned that potentially when this burned through the trees they could catch on fire, which they go up like rockets and who knows how far that could have gone once it started," Cross said.
Fire crews battled the flames through the night.
The damages were more evident with daylight.
Heather, who has been living at the complex for four years was one of the many distraught at the loss.
"Sad, I'm basically losing all my possessions and anything I've worked hard for," Heather said.
She is one of 15 people who are displaced: nine adults and six children, according to the Red Cross.
Her home along with 7 others uninhabitable – some total losses, other homes only have smoke and water damage.
But it’s the priceless memories she and others can’t replace that’s making this loss even more devastating as officials continue to investigate this as an arson case.
According to the Red Cross nine units were either destroyed or damaged.
The Red Cross is helping the residents who were displaced by the fire.
You can assist by donating to the Red Cross or YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish, or by calling the YWCA Everett Regional Center at (425) 258-2766.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but fire officials believe it started with a car fire and spread.