(January 25, 2023) Five people escaped an apartment fire in Marysville Wednesday morning and quick work by firefighters prevented flames from spreading to other units.

The fire, first reported at 4:30 a.m. off 67^th Ave NE, started on the deck of a second-floor unit and then spread to the apartment’s interior and attic. Five people inside the unit safely escaped after one resident, awoken by an alarm clock, saw smoke. Residents reported that smoke alarms inside the unit did not sound.

Firefighters had the fire under control approximately 20 minutes after arriving, stopping flames from spreading to other units. The fire displaced nine residents, including everyone inside the unit where the fire started and four people from the unit below, which had water damage inside and some fire damage to the patio. American Red Cross volunteers are assisting all displaced residents. Damage is estimated at more than $100,000. Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office investigators will determine the final cause of the fire and believe it was accidental.

We implore all residents to test your smoke alarms today. Change the batteries yearly and replace the entire alarm if older than 10 years.

“Smoke alarms can only save your life if they are working,” said Marysville Fire District Fire Marshal Tom Maloney. “Smoke alarms more than 10 years old may not work properly in a fire, even if they sound when tested. Check the manufacturer’s date on your alarms and if it’s more than 10 years old, replace the entire alarm immediately.”

We also encourage everyone to hold a homeowner or renter insurance policy to protect the value of your belongings during a fire. To minimize fire damage, ask about fire sprinklers when you build, buy or rent a home.