Kennewick Fire Leaves 8 Residents Displaced [PHOTOS]
Several people are displaced after an early morning fire on Sunday. The Kennewick Fire Department responded to the residential fire around 4 am in the 600 block of South Hawthorne Street.
Upon arrival, firefighters found smoke and fire coming from the home's attic. The fire was extinguished with the help of the Pasco Fire Department and Benton County Fire District 1. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 8 persons were displaced due to the blaze.
–When fire happens in the home, every second counts to ensure everyone remains
safe. As part of your home fire escape plan, the State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages you to include steps for helping family members who may need extra assistance getting outside to a designated gathering location.
The Washington State Fire Marshal's Office issued a release featuring fire safety tips for family members needing extra assistance.
Install smoke alarms and alerting devices that include strobe lights or bed shakers to alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing and may not be able to hear an active smoke alarm. • Use the test button on your smoke alarms to ensure everyone is familiar with the sound. The continuous high-decibel smoke alarm sounds may cause family members who are blind or who have low vision to become disoriented. • Keep mobility devices such as walkers, canes, and wheelchairs in close proximity to sleeping locations, so they are easily accessible in case of an emergency. Keep a phone within reach, and practice getting outside of the home in less than two minutes. • It may be safer for family members who require extra assistance to sleep in a ground floor bedroom to make exiting the home safer.