Snohomish County fire fatalities since 2004

At least 52 people died in fires in Snohomish County between May 2004 and January 2013, according to a Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office report. Statewide, 63 fire deaths were reported in 2012, the agency said. What were the causes?

Locally, the common causes of fatal fires included smoking, electrical and heating appliances, cooking and children who were playing with lighters or matches. The state report is similar regarding causes.

The fatal fires happened at houses, mobile homes, sheds and cars.

Of those who died, common factors included age and disabilities that prevented escape, victims who were asleep and victims under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Local fire-safety experts caution that the state report may include preliminary information and not reflect all the findings of fire investigations, which can take months or years. Suicide and homicides also can be a factor in fatal fires but aren’t as common as other causes, state data show.

Men are more likely to die in fires, especially older men, according to the state report. More than two-thirds of fire deaths involve victims 50 or older. Hearing loss and prescribed medications can be factors.

Young children and infants also are at risk due to their limited ability to escape a fire on their own or know what to do if a fire breaks out.

Statewide fire deaths, 2012

Age Female Male Total
< 11 0 3 3
11 to 19 0 3 3
20 to 29 1 2 3
30 to 39 2 3 5
40 to 49 3 3 6
50 to 59 5 7 12
60 to 69 5 10 15
> 69 8 7 15
Unknown 0 1 1
Total 24 39 63

Snohomish County fire fatalities, 2004-13

Date Time Fire department Gender Age Cause Damage Smoke detector present?
2004/05/03 1:35 AM Everett Male 49 Cooking $150,000 No
2004/07/10 3:29 AM Arlington Female 62 Electrical $150,000 Yes
2004/11/28 4:35 PM Everett Male 84 Electrical $30,000 No
2004/12/02 4:24 AM Everett Female 74 Smoking Unknown No
2005/01/13 8:18 PM Granite Falls Male 68 Undetermined $115,000 No
2005/03/23 10:25 PM Lake Stevens Male 75 Heating device $25,000 Yes
2005/04/17 9:54 AM Clearview Female 23 Undetermined $110,000 Yes
2005/04/27 6:03 PM Lynnwood Male 68 Electrical $2,000 Yes
2005/08/15 11:32 AM Fire District 1 Male 4 Child with access to ignition device $300,000 Yes
2005/08/15 11:32 AM Fire District 1 Male 6 Child with access to ignition device $300,000 Yes
2005/10/27 11:26 PM Everett Male 51 Undetermined $30,000 Yes
2005/12/13 5:07 AM Everett Female 63 Smoking $500 Yes
2006/03/19 4:20 PM Unclear from report Female 81 Heating device $230,000 No
2006/03/23 5:45 AM Lake Stevens Male 67 Electrical $35,000 No
2006/04/29 8:45 AM Robe Valley Male 77 Heating device Unknown No
2007/01/22 3:36 PM Fire District 1 Female 27 Hand-held lighter $300,000 Unknown
2007/02/13 10:12 PM Snohomish Male 51 Smoking $30,000 No
2008/10/01 6:57 AM Snohomish Female 28 Undetermined $10,000 No
2008/10/01 6:57 AM Snohomish Female 7 Undetermined $10,000 No
2008/10/01 6:57 AM Snohomish Female 3 Undetermined $10,000 No
2008/10/01 6:57 AM Snohomish Female 25 Undetermined $10,000 No
2008/11/21 10:54 PM North County Male 11 Child with access to ignition device $525,000 Yes
2008/11/21 10:54 PM North County Male 10 Child with access to ignition device $525,000 Yes
2008/11/26 1:14 PM Fire District 1 Female 65 Cooking Unknown Yes
2009/01/03 6:06 AM Everett Male 31 Undetermined $600,000 Yes
2009/02/07 2:59 PM Marysville Male 52 Undetermined $23,000 Yes
2009/05/18 8:56 AM Monroe Female Infant Electrical $120,000 Yes
2009/12/08 12:20 AM Clearview Female 58 Smoking $300,000 Yes
2009/12/09 11:00 AM Everett Female 51 Heating device $1,000 No
2009/12/10 5:56 PM Edmonds Female 84 Cooking Unknown Yes
2009/12/11 2:18 PM Monroe Male 76 Heating device Unknown No
2010/01/10 9:59 AM Fire District 1 Female 70 Smoking $200,000 No
2010/02/10 7:16 PM Marysville Female 79 Smoking $200,000 Yes
2010/02/23 7:34 PM Monroe Male 79 Cooking $20,000 Yes
2010/06/04 4:53 AM Lake Stevens Male 62 Smoking $105,700 Yes
2010/08/08 1:25 AM Everett Male 53 Undetermined $200,000 Yes
2011/01/29 4:54 AM Darrington Male 47 Electrical $50,000 Unknown
2011/01/29 4:54 AM Darrington Female 83 Electrical $50,000 Unknown
2011/03/17 6:10 AM Granite Falls Female 66 Electrical $114,514 Yes
2011/03/21 1:34 PM County fire marshal Male 37 Undetermined $107,000 Unknown
2011/09/14 4:30 PM Snohomish fire marshal Male 44 Other unintentional $80,000 Unknown
2011/10/02 5:05 AM North County Male 76 Other unintentional $450,000 No
2011/12/24 6:48 AM Everett Male 31 Undetermined $100,000 Unknown
2012/01/02 11:53 PM Lynnwood Male 50 Other unintentional $30,000 Unknown
2012/02/15 1:28 PM Arlington Female 55 Other unintentional $140,000 No
2012/04/28 3:30 AM Everett Male 52 Undetermined $300,000 Unknown
2012/06/24 11:29 PM Everett Female 72 Other unintentional $5,000 Yes
2012/10/10 4:51 PM Fire District 1 Male 52 Other unintentional $550,000 Yes
2012/11/08 9:28 PM Everett Male 61 Undetermined Unknown Yes
2013/01/19 6:03 PM County fire marshal Male 54 Other unintentional $17,000 No
2013/01/21 6:06 PM Fire District 1 Female 61 Other unintentional $50,000 Yes
2013/01/26 3:29 PM County fire marshal Male 68 Other unintentional $5,000 Unknown

SOURCE: Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.