Pullman fire early Thursday displaces six WSU students

PULLMAN - Six Washington State University students were displaced when fire broke out in their home early Thursday morning.

No one was injured, but Pullman Fire Chief Mike Heston said the students were “very lucky that they were awakened by the smoke.” The students said they did not hear a smoke detector going off. Investigators are looking into whether the home had working smoke detectors.

Pullman firefighters, along with Whitman County Rural District 12, responded to the fire at 805 N.W. Fisk St. just before 1 a.m. after someone called 911 on a cellphone, a news release from the Pullman Fire Department said.

Firefighters said smoke was pouring out of the home when they arrived but no flames were immediately visible. As they entered the house they could see flames inside the walls and spreading to the attic. Firefighters said they could also see some electrical sparks, the release said.

The house was divided into a basement and an upper apartment.

Firefighters kept the students warm in the cab of the pumper ladder truck during the fire. The students told officials they had friends they could stay with while the house is repaired.