Olympia and Lacey fire departments respond to apartment fire

A fire caused an estimated $125,000 in damage to an apartment Thursday evening in the Wilderness West apartment complex in southeast Olympia.

Just before 7 p.m., dispatch reported a fire in a second-story apartment on the 2900 block of Firwood Loop Southeast., near Yelm Highway and Rich Road. The apartment is in one of Olympia’s Urban Growth Areas and is a mutual aid response area Olympia and Lacey fire departments share.

Olympia Fire Department was the first on the scene and got to work putting out the flames. Soon, five engine companies, two trucks, two medics and a battalion chief from both departments were battling the flames and making sure everyone was safe.

By 7:10 p.m., crews had extinguished the blaze and OFD began investigating.

According to Olympia Assistant Fire Chief Mike Buchanan, the apartment’s occupant had left a candle burning in the bedroom of her apartment when she went on a 30-minute run to the store. When she returned, the two fire departments had already begun putting out the fire.

Buchanan said, based on statements and observations at the scene, the investigation is closed and it is likely that the candle caused the fire.

No one was injured, according to Buchanan.

This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 9:05 AM.