One dead in early morning house fire in Kennewick

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- The Kennewick Fire Department responded to a deadly house fire early Wednesday morning after receiving a call from a passerby who noticed smoke coming from the home in the 200 block of E. 1st Ave.

Fire officials say the arrived at the home just after 2:30am and found smoke coming from the eaves, and flames coming from a window.

When crews entered the home, the discovered a deceased person in a front room.

Battalion Chief Troy Stratford said the fire appeared to have started in the basement.

"Basement fires are always a challenge, just because of the hazards associated with the fact that they burn the floor out and you're trying to go down through the heat to get into the basement," Stratford said.

Stratford said there were no smoke alarms sounding when crews arrived on the scene.

The victim's identity won't be released until next of kin is notified, however Benton County Coroner Bill Leach did confirm that the victim is a female.

Investigators are working to determine what caused the blaze.

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