One person was killed in this house fire.
The victim of a fatal house fire in Twisp on Jan. 30 has been identified as Samuel R. Clarke, age 57. Okanogan County Coroner Dave Rodriguez said Clarke’s identity was confirmed by dental records, and death was determined to be caused by the fire.
Twisp Police Chief Paul Budrow said an investigation of the fire indicates that it was started by a portable space heater in a bedroom. The small house on West Twisp Avenue was reported to be fully engulfed in flames at about 9:30 p.m.
Budrow said the front door of the house was ajar when first responders arrived. The victim’s body was found about 10:30 p.m. inside a back door. It appears he may have left the house and then attempted to go back inside to rescue a pet cat, Budrow said. An investigation of the fire is continuing, he said.
Firefighters were successful in preventing the fire from spreading to a garage on the property and to neighboring properties, including the Twisp River Suites.
