SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — Neighbors are shocked and mourning after an RV fire claimed the life of a 14-year-old girl at Three Rivers Mobile Home Park near Monroe early Sunday morning.
"We knew there was no chance because there was so much smoke coming out of her room," said Dalen Thompson, a neighbor. "All I could see was fire. So I quickly ran out of bed, threw my pants on, threw my boots on."
The girl's parents and brother managed to escape, according to neighbors and fire officials. Flames engulfed the fifth-wheel camper within minutes, and firefighters were unable to save the teen girl.
"The first thing they did was stretch an attack line, and started focusing their attack into that, that area of the camper," said Peter Mongillo, spokesperson for Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue. "But unfortunately, as you can see, this camper sustained a significant amount of damage."
Mongillo said the camper was filled with smoke and toxic fumes, which likely led to her death.
"The windows were smashed, because of the heat shattering them," Thompson said.
Thompson described the girl as "quiet," and the entire family as "good neighbors."
Mongillo said she was sleeping in the front cab of a fifth-wheel Tahoe trailer.
The family looked devastated after the incident, neighbors said.
"The dad especially, you could really see it, just... he was dead inside," Thompson said. "He was dead inside."
Mongillo said that they are still investigating whether the family had a working smoke alarm.
"When these things catch fire, they go up pretty fast," Mongillo said.
Mongillo said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Thompson's parents' trailer and outdoor equipment were damaged in the fire.
"They were apologizing for all the stuff of ours that got burned," Thompson said. "And [my stepmom] and dad were like, 'We do not care. Your kid died. That's what matters. I mean, sure, it was thousands of dollars of stuff that got burned down. But the stuff doesn't matter. It can all be replaced."
Snohomish County firefighters reminded the public to stay safe as temperatures get colder. Mongillo said to be sure to keep curtains, clothing, furniture, or other combustibles at least three feet away from heat sources.
"Make sure you have a smoke alarm installed in every bedroom, outside of every bedroom and on every level of the home, and test them regularly," Mongillo said.