Aberdeen and Hoquiam Fire Departments (AFD and HFD) were dispatched Thursday, March 3, to a report of a smoking duplex on the 1700 block of West Market Street in Aberdeen.

Witnesses had seen smoke coming out of one side of the duplex. AFD arrived on-scene and determined the situation to be a working structure fire.

A total of 12 firefighters responded: nine from Aberdeen and three from Hoquiam, as well as the Aberdeen and Hoquiam Assistant Chiefs and the Aberdeen Fire Service Specialist. The firefighters responded in one command unit that included one medic unit and three fire engines.

According to a press release from AFD, they were met by residents who confirmed the burning residence was unoccupied. They had smelled smoke inside their unit, and saw the smoke exiting the neighboring unit when they went outside to investigate the smell.

Offensive firefighting operations commenced once the departments were on the scene, and the fire was brought under control in approximately 15 minutes. Due to the quick actions of the firefighters, fire damage was contained exclusively to the burning unit, however both units suffered smoke damage. Neither unit possessed functioning smoke detectors.

“The Aberdeen and Hoquiam Fire Departments want to remind all homeowners, property owners and renters to make sure they have working smoke detectors,” stated the press release.

The dollar loss is estimated at $50,000, and a family has been displaced by smoke damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

According to the Hoquiam Police Department Facebook page, HFD was also dispatched to a structure fire on the 200 block of Endresen Road on Thursday. The road was closed to through traffic. Additional information about the incident had yet to be released as Friday, March 3.