Fatal house fire in Sumas caused by faulty wiring, investigators conclude
A man died in a residential fire Sunday morning in Whatcom County, according to a joint news release from the Whatcom County Fire Marshal and Whatcom County Fire District 14.
District 14 crews responded to a report of a residential fire around 8:58 a.m. in the 3300 block of Halverstick Road near Sumas. They witnessed smoke and flames emanating from the building when they arrived.
Firefighters found the body of Robert Samms, 95, inside the building while extinguishing the fire. An investigation by the Whatcom County Fire Marshal concluded the fire started in the bedroom and was caused by wiring issues with the hot water heater. The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to announce an official cause of death.
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 11:01 AM.
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