A Kennewick family scrambled to safety Wednesday morning as a garage fire spread quickly, consuming much of their two-story home.
Fred and Kathie Buck, their son, Jason Buck, and his wife, Nicole, who’s expecting a baby, got outside before the house was engulfed in flames. Fire crews arrived about 7 a.m.
The family’s black Labrador, Luke, fled the house, but was rounded up by a neighbor and firefighters. They also rescued a pet rabbit.
“(The dog) did try to go back in, and we got him out,” said Kennewick fire inspector Brian Ellis.
One firefighter was taken to Trios Southridge Hospital in Kennewick to be treated for heat exhaustion. He was treated and later released.
Fred Buck was using a small hand-held torch on a project he was working on in his garage before the fire started. He told the Herald that he shut it off, set it down and went upstairs for a cup of coffee.
When he first heard the smoke alarm, he thought it might be false. When it continued, he rushed downstairs to check.