FEBRUARY 25, 2015
WINLOCK, WASHINGTON
Police confirm three bodies have been found in the wreckage
of a Winlock home burned to the ground in an overnight fire.
A woman and two children died after they were trapped in a
home that was destroyed in a fast-moving fire in Winlock.
Winlock police and firefighters were called to a home in the
800 block of Northeast First Street at 2:36 a.m. Thursday after people who live
nearby reported hearing an explosion and then saw the fire.
Firefighters arrived to find a large fire burning in a
two-story home.
Police said a man who lived there said he and his two boys
were able to escape, but his wife and two girls, believed to be under the age
of 9, were not able to get out of the house.
Though firefighters were at the scene within six minutes,
the flaming house was too unstable to go inside.
“He was telling her to get down. Get low. He thought she
made it out right behind him, but he couldn't find her,” said Winlock police
Chief Terry Williams.
“He was yelling for his kids, his girlfriend, his dog that
he lost in that fire. I pity for him,” said witness Karrie Evans.
Brian Thornton and his son ran over to help when they saw
the huge fire. He said they could hear others trapped inside the burning
house.
“You hear people crying for their lives, and trying to save
them and there's nothing you can do. It's the worst feeling in your
life,” said Thornton.
Firefighters remained at the scene Thursday afternoon
letting the massive fire burn out. The house was destroyed and it is
unlikely that anyone who was inside could have survived.
Fire officials say it's too early to tell what started the
fire, but they'll be looking for what caused the explosion people reported.
Before that, they'll have to carefully deconstruct the
house. It may be Friday before they can get inside and look for those
reported missing.
The Lewis County coroner carried three body bags into the
wreckage around 2 p.m.