1 Hurt In Lakewood Apartment Fire, Up To 40 Displaced

LAKEWOOD, WA — One man was hurt and dozens were left without homes after an overnight fire at a Lakewood apartment complex on Monday.

West Pierce firefighters first reported the blaze just before 3 a.m. They say their crews were called to a two-alarm fire in the Pacific Ridge Apartments in the 13000 block of Lincoln Avenue SW.

Crews battled the blaze for over two-and-a-half hours before getting it under control. In that time, the fire managed to damage 16 of the apartments and injure one man.

Initially firefighters reported that just 12 units were damaged, but after further investigation they found four more damaged units.

Firefighters say the injured man has been taken to a nearby hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition. Several other residents were treated by medics on scene, but none needed serious medical treatment.

Firefighters say the dozen-plus burned units were home to 30 to 40 people, all of whom cannot return to the uninhabitable apartments. Firefighters say some of the apartments were outright torched, while others suffered from water or smoke damages. Others are just without power and water, which had to be shut off while firefighters battled the blaze. The Red Cross has been called in to help find all the displaced new places to stay.

Now that the blaze is under control, investigators are searching the area. The cause of the fire has still not been determined, and investigators say with a fire this large, finding the cause could take some time.