COLVILLE, Wash. - Officials said said two children died in an apartment fire and two others sustained injuries in Colville early Friday morning.
Fire Chief Brad Manke of Stevens County Fire District #3 said the fire department was called out to a fire on Cedar and 5th at 1:42 a.m. Friday. They arrived to find a two-story apartment building with a single apartment on each floor on fire.
Crews were unable to make immediate entry due to the extent of the fire and had to begin attacking the blaze from the outside of the home. Once crews were able to cool and extinguish the fire enough for it to be safe for them, they entered the building to locate any occupants.
Crews said once they got inside, they found two little boys, about four and seven-years-old had died in the fire before crews could locate them. Officials said a woman and a young girl were also found and treated at Mt. Carmel Hospital for injuries sustained from the fire.
A woman on scene told KREM 2 News she knew the father of the 4-year-old boy. She said she came to check on the apartment as soon as she heard about the fire. She said she was devastated when she found out what happened.
"I mean, I couldn't imagine losing my son. I mean it would kill me. You feel bad for them. Pray for them. Not much you can do besides feel sorry for the family and pray and hold their head up high best they can," said family friend, Christina Boyd.
Fire crews said they were able to stop the fire before it caused damage to any other homes. The building right next door looks untouched by the fire.
Officials said the names of the victims are being withheld out of respect for the families. Authorities would not say who lives in the apartment or how any of the victims were connected. They said the woman who was sent to the hospital was the girlfriend of the 4-year-old's father.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
