Lancasters uninjured in house fire

Scott and Therese Lancaster consider themselves and their kids extremely fortunate that their home was saved and, far more importantly, that they’re still alive. As Therese put it, “God was watching out for us.”

The Lancasters’ ordeal would not have had this kind of ending if Scott didn’t wake up last Friday, March 28, around 4 a.m. Scott isn’t sure why he was awakened, because he couldn’t smell smoke or see fire. For that matter, the Lancasters’ smoke alarm failed to go off. Scott found it incredible that the alarm remained silent while a fire smoldered. “It goes off if we’re burning toast, of if somebody takes a shower,” he said with a smile. But not when there was a fire.

As he walked around the house, Scott began to smell smoke, then called 911, and got everybody outside safely.

Little did he know at the time that the fire had moved up against the wall and under the floor where the Lancasters’ two children -- Patrick, nearly 10, and Lindsay, age six -- were sleeping. He was later told by an Orcas Island firefighter that it wouldn’t have been long before the fire broke through the wall, endangering the life of the kids.

Twenty-two Orcas firefighters responded with a total of four fire engines, two water tankers and the rescue truck. They quickly put the fire out. The Lancasters were extremely impressed with their performance. “They saved our house,” Scott said of the firefighters, “They kept our lives on an even keel. They were very professional.”

The firefighters turned the home back to the Lancasters at 6:30 a.m., but the family quickly determined that the residence would require some major repairs before they would be able to live in it again. They are now residing at Smugglers Villa Resort, and are expected to be there for as long as two months, Scott says.

Fortunately, the home is insured, and most of the items will likely be saved. The Lancasters insist that they don’t need any financial assistance. They ask those wanting to offer a helping hand to make a contribution to the local volunteer firefighters association.

The fire was apparently caused by a chimney fire that ignited debris in the ash clean-out at the base of the chimney, according to county Fire Marshal Rick Galer.

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