West Valley resident loses her home in brush fire
YAKIMA, Wash. -- The West Valley fire that took out a home Wednesday night is being investigated. Investigators don't yet know how it started, but said the fire was limited to one acre.
Firefighters are confident the fire on Tieton Drive started in a nearby field, spread to the outdoor sheds and eventually to the house. They say the home is almost a total loss and estimate the damage at around $100,000.
The homeowner was inside at the time, but neighbors and friends are glad to hear she made it out safely.
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A woman loses her home in what fire officials believed started as a brush fire.
" I don't know how it went and did so much damage. But evidently it did. I don't know what I'm going to do now because I have no place to go," said homeowner Mary Jennings.
Jennings, who is recovering from open heart surgery, was still inside. She says she saw the flames, but didn't think it would reach her house.
"I didn't get anything out of the house. I didn't have time...it was all just boom boom boom," said Jennings.
Fire crews tell us the wind played a big role in how quickly it spread.
They say it started in a nearby field and spread to the sheds located behind the house. By the time crews arrived, there was a full attic fire and home was engulfed in flames.
Neighbors were quick to jump in and help, but say it was still frightening to see the flames take out a home.
"It's very scary. If the wind was blowing any other way it could have really taken out quite a lot of pastures and couple more houses really," said neighbor Jan Foster.
"Just more worried about the house and the elderly lady that lives in the house at the time than I was the house. You can replace the house, can't replace lives," said neighbor Greg Kilseimer.
Jennings agreed and said while she wasn't able to get anything out of the house, she is happy that both of her dogs made it out safely.
Fire crews say they will be investigating the cause of the fire. At this time we do not know the cost of the damage, but fortunately no one was hurt.
Firefighters are confident the fire on Tieton Drive started in a nearby field, spread to the outdoor sheds and eventually to the house. They say the home is almost a total loss and estimate the damage at around $100,000.
The homeowner was inside at the time, but neighbors and friends are glad to hear she made it out safely.
---------------------Prior Story-------------------
YAKIMA, Wash. -- A woman loses her home in what fire officials believed started as a brush fire.
" I don't know how it went and did so much damage. But evidently it did. I don't know what I'm going to do now because I have no place to go," said homeowner Mary Jennings.
Jennings, who is recovering from open heart surgery, was still inside. She says she saw the flames, but didn't think it would reach her house.
"I didn't get anything out of the house. I didn't have time...it was all just boom boom boom," said Jennings.
Fire crews tell us the wind played a big role in how quickly it spread.
They say it started in a nearby field and spread to the sheds located behind the house. By the time crews arrived, there was a full attic fire and home was engulfed in flames.
Neighbors were quick to jump in and help, but say it was still frightening to see the flames take out a home.
"It's very scary. If the wind was blowing any other way it could have really taken out quite a lot of pastures and couple more houses really," said neighbor Jan Foster.
"Just more worried about the house and the elderly lady that lives in the house at the time than I was the house. You can replace the house, can't replace lives," said neighbor Greg Kilseimer.
Jennings agreed and said while she wasn't able to get anything out of the house, she is happy that both of her dogs made it out safely.
Fire crews say they will be investigating the cause of the fire. At this time we do not know the cost of the damage, but fortunately no one was hurt.
