42-year-old dies in Kennewick apartment complex fire
A 42-year-old man died after being pulled from a burning Kennewick apartment Sunday.
Kennewick police and fire officials are still investigating what caused the fire that killed Matthew F. Rowlette.
Firefighters were called to the Tanglewood Apartments south of Kamiakin High School at 6:15 p.m. for a fire in the “C” building.
When they arrived, they found flames and smoke coming from a second-story apartment, according to a Kennewick Fire Department release. Firefighters initially worked on keeping the fire from spreading.
When crews went up to a second-floor balcony, they learned from neighbors that Rowlette was still inside.
Firefighters found a man later identified as Rowlette in the living room, said Kennewick Fire Chief Chad Michael. He was unconscious and unresponsive.
Kennewick and Richland firefighters tried reviving him with CPR as he was being taken to Trios Southridge Hospital.
The Benton County Coroner’s Office hasn’t determined whether there will be an autopsy.
Kennewick firefighters were assisted by other Tri-Cities agencies, including Pasco, Richland and Benton County fire districts 1 and 4.
In a Pasco Fire Department post on Twitter, the agency acknowledged having its own commercial fire call 10 minutes earlier Sunday on West Lewis Street.
Since that fire was out upon arrival, all units were released from the scene so they could go help in Kennewick, the post said.
Firefighters were finishing up at the apartment complex at 465 N. Arthur St. at 7:30 p.m., according to a Facebook post by Kennewick fire.
The post added that the Richland Fire Department assisted on a medical call in east Kennewick at the same time since Kennewick crews were tied up at the apartments.
Apartment complex management told the fire department they had recently checked the smoke alarms in the buildings, Michael said.
Most of the people in the building were able to return to their units last night, he said. There was some water damage to the apartment below and smoke damage to the apartment unit above.
This story was originally published April 25, 2021 at 8:20 PM.