Fire destroys Gold Bar home along U.S. 2

GOLD BAR — A two-alarm fire destroyed a house off U.S. 2 in Gold Bar on Monday morning, authorities said.

At 5:21 a.m., firefighters were called to the 40700 block of U.S. 2, Sky Valley Fire Chief Eric Andrews wrote in an email. A dog and cats escaped the house after crews arrived. Billowing gray smoke streamed out of the home as crews fought the fire.

Crews from Snohomish County Fire District 5 and Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue also responded, Andrews said.

The sole resident was not home at the time of the fire, Andrews said. No one was injured.

The home was considered a total loss, Andrews said. Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office was investigating the cause Monday.

While firefighters attacked the fire, U.S. 2 traffic was alternating at milepost 29. Around 7:45 a.m., the state Department of Transportation reported the highway had reopened to normal traffic.