No injuries in two-alarm downtown house fire

Several pets died when a fire Monday morning erupted at a house in downtown Shelton and then spread to the house next door.

At 10:21 a.m. Monday, crews from Central Mason Fire & EMS were dispatched to a smoke investigation at the intersection of Park Street and South Seventh Street. Engine 58 arrived a few minutes later, reported a fire in a house and upgraded the call to a first-alarm structure fire.

In a news release, Central Mason Fire & EMS said it was initially reported that the house was occupied by two people. Central Mason crews entered the structure to extinguish the fire and search for victims. Crews found heavy fire conditions but were able to search most of the building within a few minutes. No victims were found in the home and it was later confirmed by the family that they were out of the home and safe.

The fire spread to the house on the south side of the structure on fire. Additional crews were requested, and the fire was upgraded to a second alarm. Crews were now fighting fires in two structures.

As the fire progressed, crews withdrew from the second house and moved to a defensive attack.

The City of Shelton brought in heavy equipment to assist with extinguishing the fire.

Although several people were evaluated at the scene, no significant injuries were reported. Crews from Central Mason, the City of Shelton and Cascade Natural Gas worked on and successfully revived several cats at the scene. Several pets perished in the fire.

Crews remained on the scene until late afternoon. The fire closed Seventh Street, a major arterial, to traffic.

In the release, Central Mason thanked South Mason Fire, the Shelton Police Department, MACECOM, City of Shelton Public Works Department, City of Shelton Animal Control, Cascade Natural Gas, Mason PUD 3 and The American Red Cross for their assistance at the incident.