Wilkeson man dies in fire after firefighters pulled him from burning home
A Wilkeson man died Monday afternoon in a fire after firefighters pulled him from a burning single-story home, according to officials. Several people reportedly tried to rescue him before crews arrived.
The fire occurred at a house in Wilkeson, a small town in East Pierce County. It was reported shortly before 2 p.m. when neighbors noticed smoke coming from the residence and called 911, Buckley Fire Department Chief Eric Skogen said. Multiple agencies responded, including a volunteer fire department from nearby Carbonado, whose firefighters found the man unresponsive and got him out.
Skogen said the man was brought to the front yard and crews tried to resuscitate him. He was later transferred to a paramedic unit. The victim has not been publicly identified. He was 41.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and close-knit community of Wilkeson with this tragic outcome,” the Carbonado Volunteer Fire Department wrote on Facebook.
An investigation into the fire is ongoing, but Skogen said the initial findings were that the fire was accidental, and that it appeared to have started due to an electrical issue. He said the blaze caused moderate damage to the residence, and it was contained to one area. The fire chief said he can’t recall any recent fire deaths in Wilkeson, which had a population of just 499 in 2020, according to census data.
It took firefighters just under 10 minutes to arrive at the fire in the 500 block of Davis Street, Skogen said. Crews were dispatched from East Pierce Fire & Rescue, Buckley and Carbonado fire departments. A medic unit from Orting Valley Fire & Rescue also went.
When crews got there, Skogen said a neighbor and two Buckley police officers were trying to get inside, but the home was filled with smoke.
“They could see a victim that appeared unresponsive, and they were attempting to make a rescue,” Skogen said. “The smoke conditions were too much for them to go any further.”
After firefighters entered and removed the victim, Skogen said it took crews about 10 minutes to get the fire under control. He said no one else reportedly lived at the residence.
The two police officers and neighbor who tried to rescue the man were evaluated by medical personnel at the scene, Skogen said. One officer was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw for smoke inhalation, and he has since been released.
