BLAINE - Investigators are looking into the cause of an early morning fire that destroyed a Blaine home and displaced a family of three Sunday, Nov. 20.
Firefighters from North Whatcom Fire and Rescue responded just after 2 a.m. to the home, at 51 Birch Court, to find the second story of the house ablaze with flames showing through the roof.
Family members had been sleeping and awoke to heat from the fire, said John Swobody, division chief for North Whatcom. While escaping the home, one of the family members suffered non-life-threatening burns and had to be taken to St. Joseph hospital.
North Whatcom crews, with assistance from Whatcom County Fire District 7, were able to put out the fire within half an hour but stayed until about 8 a.m. to make sure there were no hot spots where the fire could rekindle. The home was destroyed, and Swobody estimated the damage at about $220,000.
The fire started between the dining room and kitchen on the second floor, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Volunteers with the Mt. Baker chapter of American Red Cross arrived at the scene to help the family with clothing, shoes, food and other assistance after the fire.
