Man burned, 2 firefighters suffer heat exhaustion at Tri-Cities house fire

A Kennewick home was destroyed by fire Sunday morning, and the blaze left the homeowner and two firefighters needing medical treatment.

Benton County Fire District 1 arrived at 6:50 a.m. to see flames coming from the single-story house at 18604 S. Myrtle St., which is several blocks south of the Benton County Fairgrounds.

The owner of the house and two dogs made it out of the house before fire crews arrived, but the homeowner had burns to his face and arms, according to the fire district.

A Fire District 1 firefighter rescued a third dog from the house and handed it to the homeowner. The man refused medical treatment at the fire, but was later taken for treatment in a personal car.

One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion at the fire before 8 a.m., and the fire district said a second firefighter also needed treatment for heat exhaustion later.

The fire was under control shortly before 8 a.m. but crews spent another hour making sure all hot spots were extinquished.

A power line was down and blocked the main gate access to the property until Benton PUD arrived to de-energize the line.

The Kennewick and Pasco fire departments and Franklin Fire District 3 also assisted.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire, according to Benton Fire District 1.