POSTED: Monday, Nov. 30, 2009

Custer home destroyed in fire, no one injured

CUSTER - A house in the 3200 block of Loomis Trail Road was destroyed in a fire Sunday evening, Nov. 29.

Three people who were home at the time of the fire were able to escape without injury, said Henry Hollander, assistant chief for North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Services. A couple of cats are missing, but it is not uncommon for cats to escape a fire quickly and return home a few days later, he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, although it appears to have been an electrical fire that started in the carport, Hollander said. The family said they noticed lights flickering and then saw an orange glow coming from the carport, he said.

Wind gusts likely spread the fire to the house. Authorities were alerted at about 8:16 p.m. but when fire crews arrived, flames were already coming out of the windows on all sides the home. There was no opportunity to save the house, Hollander said.

One side of the home still had smoke coming out of it Monday morning, but that remaining smoke was put out by fire crews on scene, he said.

Hollander said he estimated the damage to be at least $150,000, but he would have a more exact figure once the investigation was complete.