The Ephrata Fire Department was dispatched at 11:20 p.m. on February 14, 2024, for a residential structure fire in the 500 block of D St. SE in Ephrata, Washington. A neighbor reported the home on fire across the street from her.
Upon arrival fire crews observed a fully engulfed double wide mobile home. Grant County Fire District 13 was added to the call to assist with suppression efforts. Two ladies, both in their seventies, lived in the mobile home and were unable to escape the rapidly moving fire.
The deceased are in the care of Coroner Craig Morrison whose staff will perform autopsies and confirm identification.
The initial fire investigation is focused on the use of multiple space heaters, while no working smoke detectors is a contributing factor to the deaths.