Grays Harbor Fire District 5 was dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 100 block of Blockhouse Road N Sunday, December 9th, 2018 at 6:34 PM. On initial dispatch, it was advised that the structure was known to be abandoned. Several callers calling in stated that the structure was fully involved.

Law enforcement arriving on scene noted that there was a train blocking the Elma side access to Blockhouse Road North, the Elma officer first on scene coordinated with railroad operators and worked on getting the roadway open for fire crews so that they could safely and quickly get to the residence without delay.

First Fire District 5 unit arriving on scene advised and confirmed that the residence was fully engulfed.

Property owners arrived at the scene and confirmed that the property and residence had been vacated for several years, and should not have been occupied. There was no power to the structure, being a single story residence with a basement that was built in 1914.

The fire was primarily knocked down and in overhaul at 7:42 pm.

Primary firefighting efforts were attributed to coordinated water delivery to the scene and water tender operations. Overgrown property around the structure presented small hazards and obstacles throughout the efforts.

The Elma Fire Department, Fire District 1 and Fire District 12 was also responded as mutual aid and responded to assist. 40 Firefighters responded to the scene to assist putting out the fire.

Investigators will return to the scene Monday to try and determine a cause as well as confirm that the structure was unoccupied using daylight to aid them in the investigation.

Fire units cleared the scene leaving one fire engine to tend to possible flare up and hotspots at 10:46 PM.