1 dead, 15 injured in massive Everett apartment fire

EVERETT, Wash. -- One person was killed and 15 others were injured in a Thursday night apartment fire in Everett.

Everett firefighters first responded to a call about a mattress fire just after 7 p.m. at the Bluffs at Evergreen apartment complex at 2 West Casino Road. The fire grew quickly and soon engulfed roughly 50 percent of the building, according to Eric Hicks with the Everett Fire Department.

"The first crews arrived and found fire and smoke coming from a unit," Hicks said. "The building was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system, and the fire was able to travel into the attic and spread quickly through the building."

Approximately 90 firefighters from several local agencies descended on the complex to battle the fire. Firefighters searching the units soon found the body of an adult who died in the fire. Hicks said another 15 residents ranging from 5 to 60 years old required medical treatment for injuries such as smoke inhalation, burns and injuries from being dropped out of upper-story windows.

Twelve of the 15 injured were taken to local hospitals, including a 57-year-old woman in critical condition, and three others in serious condition, Hicks said.

"It's going to be everybody's personal tragedy," he said. "With people being displaced in this time of year, with the weather, it's not good for anyone."

Resident Jeff Johnson said he had just left home when he learned of the fire.

"I was gone maybe 20 minutes and my wife called me and said the complex was on fire. So I raced back here and chaos was here," he said.

Johnson said his apartment was completely engulfed in flames when he returned.

"It was just massive. My dog's in there. I hope he got out. It's a major loss, a very sad loss, really," he said.

Firefighters were still working to contain the blaze well into Thursday night.

"There was just smoke and then everything was just covered and then it was just 'whoosh,' you could see the walls starting to crumble. People were screaming and crying," said resident Wynter Wallace.

Red Cross officials are on scene helping the roughly 100 displaced residents find accommodations.

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