By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Three firefighters were injured Wednesday around 2:45 p.m. in an explosion during a house fire in Greenbank on Whidbey Island, Washington, near Lagoon Point on Smuggler’s Cove Road.
- The injured responders included two fire chiefs and one firefighter from South Whidbey Fire/EMS and Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue, all reported in stable condition following the blast.
- Two firefighters were transported to Providence Regional Medical Center for blast injuries while a third was transported to Island Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
- The explosion completely destroyed the house where the fire occurred and a neighboring residence, with a third home sustaining damage from the blast; two civilians who may have been injured self-transported to medical facilities.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Region 3 Arson Task Force are investigating the explosion.
GREENBANK, WASH. — Three firefighters were injured in an explosion Wednesday during a structure fire in the Greenbank area of unincorporated Whidbey Island that destroyed two residences and damaged a third.
Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue received a 911 report of a fire around 2:45 p.m. at a residence near Lagoon Point on Smuggler’s Cove Road. The location was in the unincorporated community of Greenbank.
Responders from Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue and South Whidbey Fire/EMS arrived at the scene. Shortly after initial arrival, an explosion occurred that injured two fire chiefs and one firefighter. The identity of the injured responders has not been released at this time.
Two of the injured firefighters were transported to Providence Regional Medical Center for treatment of blast injuries sustained during the explosion. The third firefighter was transported to Island Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
All three firefighters are in stable condition, according to officials.
The fire and subsequent explosion completely destroyed the residence where the incident began. The blast also completely destroyed an adjacent home. A third house located near the fire sustained damage from the force of the explosion.
Two civilians who may have been injured during the incident self-transported to medical facilities prior to emergency responders being able to evaluate them at the scene, according to fire officials.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the explosion along with the Region 3 Arson Task Force to determine the cause of the blast and its relationship to the structure fire.