Federal Way, Washington – House Fire on 33rd Avenue Southwest

Federal Way, Washington (May 23, 2019) – A fire that broke out in a home on the 3324 block of 33rd Avenue Southwest has been ruled as a case of arson by the investigators. No one was injured in the fire which happened on early Thursday morning.

Fire crews responded to the scene around 1:30 a.m., and by the time of their arrival the house was already fully involved. Due to the effects of the fire half of the home was said to have collapsed. Despite beign ruled as a case of arson, investigation is still ongoing.

About Fire

While this particular case is due to arson, it is still important to note one’s personal fire safety. The US Fire Administration has recorded 15 home fire fatalities this year within Washington.  Statistics from the NFPA have recorded that cooking equipment were the leading cause of home structure fires, home fire injuries, as well as being the second leading case of home fire deaths. Additionally, smoking materials are the leading case of home fire deaths, though it isn’t always the case every year. Always handle fire with wariness and see to it that fires are always extinguished after use. Remember also to assess the area where fire is going to be used and see to it that complete fire safety is practiced at all times.

Aside from cooking equipment and smoking materials, electrical causes remain to be one of the top causes for home fires according to the NFPA. Their Electrical Fire Reports to the U.S Fire Department since 2000 estimates around 45,000 to 55,000 cases of home fires being caused by electrical malfunction every year. Annual losses due to electrical fire result in 455 civilian deaths, 1, 500 civilian injuries and 1.5 billion of dollars in direct property damage. From these statistics, the risk from electrical fire is very real and should not be underestimated. As for the accidents themselves, the NFPA lists 63 percent involved wiring and related equipment, 74 percent cited some sort of electrical failure or malfunction, and wire or cable insulation was the first item ignited in 32 percent of electrical distribution or lighting equipment home structure fires. In light of this case, firefighters are stressing the importance of closed doors, which can help prevent the spread of fire. From these cases, one must always review and identify potential fire hazards and fix them to avoid damages, injuries or deaths.

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