A fire in the 600 block of North 20th Avenue last night, Tuesday, caused the total loss of a house and its contents. Yakima Fire Department (YFD) firefighters were called to the scene at 9:32 pm Tuesday. There were no injuries.
Multiple callers reported the fire, which threatened neighboring houses. First-arriving YFD crews found the front half of the house fully involved in flames, with fire in the attic the entire length of the structure. Multiple power lines were down and arcing.
The fire load was too much to control and the growth continued to outpace firefighting efforts. Additional YFD crews were called to the scene. The East Valley Fire Department and the Yakima Training Center Fire Department assisted at the scene.
City of Yakima Public Works Division crews were called to the scene. They assisted with a backhoe, clearing portions of the structure.
A total of 44 firefighters responded. YFD crews were on scene for about five-and-a-half hours. However, YFD firefighters were called back to the scene this morning, Wednesday, in response to reports the fire was smoldering.
The dollar loss is estimated at $275,000. The occupant of the home is staying with family in the area.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.