QUILCENE — Undersheriff Tony Hernandez said it will take time to identify the two people who died in a Wednesday night house fire on Boulton Farm Road.
“We can’t say who it is because of the damage done by the fire,” Hernandez said.
“That will be up to the coroners.”
Hernandez said the remains of the two individuals will be sent to the King County medical examiner in Seattle because of the extent of the burns.
The fire took place at 780 Boulton Farm Road. Patrick and Janice Yarr are listed in the phone book as the residents of the home.
The Leader weekly newspaper, while declining to name names, said on its Web site that the victims “are members of a respected Jefferson County pioneer family.”
As of Thursday night, the investigation into the fire was continuing.
Hernandez said no cause has been listed, and the location for where the blaze originated has not been determined.
“We’re still processing the scene right now,” he said. “We haven’t even removed the deceased yet.”
Fire seen by a passer-by
The fire was reported at 8:21 p.m. by a passer-by who called 9-1-1.
“At the time of the call, flames could be seen coming from the sides and top of the main floor of the daylight basement structure,” the report states.
Quilcene Fire Department spokesman Willie Knoepfle, incident commander at the scene, said the main south half of the house was engulfed when firefighters arrived.
“We were immediately put into a defensive mode to knock the flames down before we could get into the structure,” he said.
Quilcene fire officials said the blaze was primarily located on the main floor of the home. Fire officials later reported two bodies were found inside.
Downed power lines around the structure were a safety concern for fire officials in the initial phase of the fire fight.
Jefferson County Fire District No. 2 (Quilcene) was the first to arrive.
Firefighters from Discovery Bay Fire Department, Port Ludlow Fire-Rescue and East Jefferson Fire-Rescue also responded.
Fire watch crews remained through the night and into the morning.
A regional task force has been called in for assistance in processing the fire scene, officials said.
Hernandez said information will be provided as it is becomes available.
“As of right now, we just don’t know any more,” Hernandez said.
The sheriff’s office is asking that anyone with information about the fire contact Undersheriff Tony Hernandez at 360-385-3831, ext. 552, or ahernandez@co.jefferson.wa.us.
Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
