On Sunday at 4:41 p.m. neighbors called 911 to report a residence on fire in the 900 block of Wheeler Avenue in Hoquiam.   The Hoquiam Fire Department along with a Rapid Intervention Team from the Aberdeen Fire Department were dispatched.  The neighbors alerted the elderly resident of the house and assisted her in getting out.  She was not aware her house was on fire.   

Upon arriving on scene, fire personnel found the front porch of the area was fully engulfed in flame. The fire also caused a live power line to fall to the ground creating an additional hazard for responders.   Hoquiam Fire Captain Larissa Rohr was the Incident Commander and requested a second alarm, bringing additional personnel from Aberdeen as well as calling in off-duty Hoquiam firefighters.  Approximately 15 firefighters from both departments as well as Chief Hubbard and Assistant Chief Malizia from the Aberdeen Fire Department responded to the scene.  A crew from Grays Harbor P.U.D. and a representative of Cascade Natural Gas also responded.

Due to the arcing live power line in the middle of the fire ground, significant combustible material within the residence, and other hazards, the firefighters faced several challenges, however the fire was extinguished in less than an hour. There was significant damage to the home but there were no injuries.  At this time the cause of the fire is still under investigation.  Due to the excellent work of the members of the Hoquiam and Aberdeen fire departments the fire was contained to the front of the house and much of the contents were saved.