A rural residence east of Port Angeles was destroyed by a fire Tuesday afternoon after flames that began in the daylight basement chased the owner, poet and professor emeritus Alice Derry from the deck of her home.
Derry, 71, of 1862 Deer Park Road, was not injured in the blaze reported at 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, Fire District 2 Chief Sam Phillips said. An English professor at Peninsula College for 29 years and now a professor emeritus, Derry ran the college’s Foothills Wrtiers Series for many years and has published several books of poetry.
Phillips said Derry, listed in county Assessor’s Office records as the sole owner, was the only person in the home.
The $265,000 tri-level, wood-siding residence was a total loss by the time the fire was declared under control at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Phillips said.