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
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