SEQUIM — A fire inside a fifth-wheel trailer that claimed the life of a 5-year-old was started by a faulty refrigerator, Clallam County Sheriff Brian King said.
Detectives and fire investigators from Clallam County Fire District 3 made the determination on March 11, King said.
There were two refrigerators, one electric and the other propane, by the trailer’s door, he said.
Fire crews from both fire district 3 and Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue arrived at the fire at 7:43 p.m. March 9, in the 1300 block of Gasman Road off Old Olympic Highway to find the trailer fully involved in flames, Clallam County Fire District 3 fire chief Justin Grider said.
He added that the fire had already taken the life of the 5-year-old before firefighters could enter the trailer.
A 1-year-old was extricated from the trailer, transported to Olympic Medical Center and later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center.
An adult was outside of the trailer prior to the fire, King said.
No charges will be filed because the fire was caused by the refrigerator, he added.
A chaplain helped facilitate family members’ travel to the hospital, he said.
First responders also were provided a voluntary critical incident stress debriefing to help with any psychological impact from the incident, he said.
Along with the Sheriff’s Office and District 3, crews with Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue, East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Olympic Ambulance responded to the fire.
