Morning fire on the building of James Street Burns; Those inside have escaped

At least two apartments on James Street near the exit of Interstate 5 in Lakeway were burned in a Friday morning fire.

The Bellingham fire service and the Bellingham police service responded to a residential fire around 11:00 am on June 13 in Bloc 1400 on rue James. The crews turned off the fire in about 30 minutes.

A person was saved from a balcony on the second floor, who left. Another person jumped from a second floor window. This individual and another were transported to the hospital, said Dustin Michaelis, from BFD.

Journalists on the scene saw two smoking and charred apartments, with broken glass windows and melted patio furniture. At least two other apartments are in the building. The fire alarms could be heard going back to the two -story building.

Voisin Neil Marks, 38, said that he had heard his barking dogs and assumed that someone was at the door. Instead, when he looked through his window, the apartment on the ground floor next to his house was in flames.

“I called the 911 and I caught my fire extinguisher,” he said, adding that he had pulverized trees overlooking in the backyard and the alley to ensure that the flames did not jump.

Voisine Lexi Kok, 35, said that she had seen several fire trucks and met a friend who is a firefighter when they were informed that the building was on fire. She knows at least one man who lives in the building.

“I came to see if he was fine, but he was clearly at home,” she said.

The cause of the fire remains under study.

It is a story in development. Come back later to find out more.

Annie Todd is the journalist for criminal justice / CDN company; Join her at anietdd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.