Fatal house fire in Shelton

Firefighters discovered Mistelle Huskey, 49, dead after a residential fire Saturday in the Mountain View neighborhood, according to officials.

A neighbor who called in the 6:02 a.m. fire at Washington and East K streets, told dispatch someone lived in the home.

Within four minutes, Central Mason Fire & EMS were there with mutual aid resources and crews quickly determined the house was occupied, Central Mason Chief Jeff Snyder told the Journal.

"It was a small house with heavy, heavy smoke conditions," he said.

Firefighters immediately searched for occupants.

Huskey was found in a bedroom within eight minutes, but she could not be revived, according to Snyder.

"I can't give the crews credit enough," he said

Mason County Coroner Jamie Taylor had not released an official cause of death as of the Journal's press time.

Snyder said he believes the fire started in the kitchen, but the investigation is ongoing.

"Anytime we have a fatality, we take our time. We're very methodical," Snyder said.

He stressed how important it is for people to have working smoke alarms and to sleep with their bedroom doors closed.

A closed door keeps more oxygen in the room and will not feed the fire.

Huskey's bedroom door was open, Snyder said.