Fire investigators are still determining what started a fire in a utility room that caused an estimated $10,000 in damage to a Deming home Sunday afternoon.
Whatcom County Fire District 1 received a report of the structure fire at 4838 Deming Road Sunday afternoon after a neighbor reported hearing a smoke alarm and seeing smoke from vents on the roof of the house, District 1 Chief Mel Blankers said.
The residents were not home at the time of the call. When fire crews arrived, Blankers said, they found the fire still limited to the utility room, which contained a washer, dryer, furnace and hot water heater.