20141120101431571.pdfFIRE'
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Serving the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and town of Woodway
NOT El 0 5 WIN
Owner name: Ray Weber Contact phone
23329 92nd Ave W, Edmonds, WA 98020
(206) 769-3860
Occupant name: Jeremy Zener Contact phone: (509) 847-9923
Location: 23327 92nd Ave W, Edmonds, WA 98020
Investigator notified: 12:35 hrs Arrived: 13:07 hrs
investigators: FM16 John Westfall & ACII 1 Brad Reading
Photos by FIVI 16 and AC 11
INVESTIGATORSCONCLUSION: Physical evidence and testimony indicate the
house fire started in the attic space by a ceiling 2x4 member installed in contact
with the chimney.
NARRATIVE:
Firefighters responded to incident $DF14-17703 on the morning of response
date. Initial complaints from tenants were scorched ceiling wallboard around th(4.
chimney area and smell of wood smoke. Firefighters extinguished and removed
burning insulation material and found origin & cause at that time. The tenants
were displaced due to ceiling damage from fire suppression investigation and
overhaul as wel , I as main electrical service that had to be shut off due to burned
electrical circuit wires. The owner that lived next door called 9-1-1 in the
afternoon when new smoke was identified, as 1-20 had requested lie do. 6" of
cellulose fiber insulation retained some heat and smoldered to re -ignition in
second response to same house.
On scene, primary burn damage occurred above the living room area where the
woodstove and chimney was located. The chimney adjoined the attached garage
beyond.
Fire Origin and Cause Determination Report
Headquarters, 12425 Meridian Avenue/ Everett WA 98208 /425-551-1200 / (f) 425-551-1249
www.firedistrict1.org
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FIR
DIS
Serving the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and town of Woodway
Living room with attached garage behind chimney and wall.
The season has provided one week of sub -freezing temperatures in the area at
night for the last week. Tenant Jeremy Zener had been using the fireplace insert
to supplement primary source of heat; forced air central heating. He indicated
this week was the first of season extended use of firebox for heating. Around
2230 hours on evening of 11/15, Mr Zener closed the damper for the stove, a
normal procedure before his family was put to bed that night. By the morning, the
fire was out yet they still smelled wood smoke. Darkened ceiling board adjacent
to the chimney and burned ceiling joint in the garage area were indicators of the
fire. He lowered the attic access stairs located in the garage area and found light
smoke condition in the attic space before he called 9-1-1 this morning.
A ceramic liner is indicated from the exterior at the top of masonry chimney.
According to owner, this is original construction circa 1956. Openings in the brick
face of the fireplace provide additional convection heating below ceiling and
behind the face of -
Fire Origin and Cause Determination Report
Headquarters, 12425 Meridian Avenue / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 / (f) 425-551-1249
www.firedistrictl.org
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FIR
DISw
Serving the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and town of Woodway
The ceiling/wall frame was constructed horizontally in contact with the concrete
block on living room side of chimney. Patterns on the concrete block indicate
burning material(s) across the entire width of the chimney.
Flame patterns on chimney block directly above ceiling level
Electrical circuit runs adjacent to the area of origin showed insulation burned
clean to copper, yet those same wires were properly sheathed at locations away
from the heat of the fire area of origin.
Vertical frame members on both sides of the chimney face were burned through
at least 12 inches above the ceiling level.
Code requirements today requires 2" spacing from a masonry fireplace to
supporting structural combustible frames, in this case that was in direct contact.
Fire Origin and Cause Determination Report
Headquarters, 12425 Meridian Avenue / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 / (f) 425-551-1249
www.firedistrictl.org
111 R
DIST
Serving the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and town of Woodway
Despite the ceramic liner, close inspection of the concrete block indicate failed
horizontal mortar joints and fine cracks in the concrete blocks themselves.
In the following image, the top of the 2x4 was level with the mortar joint and
completely burned away.
Horizontal mortar joint failure and cracks in the concrete blocks
Some burning occurred across the attic space in the ceiling frame away from the
fireplace. This is explained by air space in the insulation allowing flame to spread
along the cold air return duct across the living room attic to the furnace located
behind the fireplace in the garage.
Fire Origin and Cause Determination Report
Headquarters, 12425 Meridian Avenue / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 / (f) 425-551-1249
www.firedistrictl.org
FIDEk�v
DIS
Serving the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, and town of Woodway
Flame damage continued away from fireplace connecting duct at right
In this investigator's opinion, radiant heat from the chimney caused pyrolytic
action to the contacting horizontal 2x4 frame. Pyrolysis reduces ignition
temperature of the lumber leaving the wood more readily burned, in this case to
ignition point, burning this wood member. Additionally, convected heat through
failed mortar joints and from openings behind the hearth may have assisted in
heating over time. Local area low temperatures created a need for continual
fireplace burning that initiated the opportunity for ignition.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that
the foregoing statement is true and correct.
Investigator
RIM
Fire Origin and Cause Determination Report
Headquarters, 12425 Meridian Avenue / Everett WA 98208 / 425-551-1200 425-551-1249
www. fi red i strict 1. o rg