Residents: Everett apartment fire sparked during violent fight
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EVERETT, Wash. - The body of a man who died Thursday in a ferocious three-alarm fire at an Everett apartment building was finally retrieved Saturday, and residents said they believe the blazed was touched off during a violent fight in his unit.
As Saturday's frosty sunrise shed light on the blackened remains of the historic building, neighbors and friends of the people who once lived there stopped by to look at the destruction.
"I just feel sorry for all the people that live there," said one of them, Robert Chamular. "To lose everything you have - it's sad."
Another man said, "A couple of them that lived here had three kids, and they are displaced right now. They lost everything except for the clothes on their backs."
Flames broke out about 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the two-story, 13-unit building near Comcast Arena. The building's first floor contained shops, while the second story was apartments.
Angela Plumb, a former resident of the apartment building, told KOMO News that just before the fire she could hear a commotion in a unit across the hall.
She says she had just met the man who lived their earlier - and says he appeared troubled.
"When I spoke with him it was very obvious that he was in crisis," says Plumb.
She said after listening to what sounded like a fight in the man's apartment unit Thursday night, her friend looked out into the hallway.
"And when he opened the door it was just a black wall of smoke, and he turned to me and said, 'Get something to cover your face. We have to get out. It's on fire,'" she recounts.
Getting out of the apartment building was a terrifying ordeal, Plumb says. "I had to crawl along the floor and use my hands to even know what direction I was going."
The man across the hall never made it out.
Firefighters say what is left of the building is very unstable. Until it is shored up, they won't be able to start their investigation into how the fire started.
As Saturday's frosty sunrise shed light on the blackened remains of the historic building, neighbors and friends of the people who once lived there stopped by to look at the destruction.
"I just feel sorry for all the people that live there," said one of them, Robert Chamular. "To lose everything you have - it's sad."
Another man said, "A couple of them that lived here had three kids, and they are displaced right now. They lost everything except for the clothes on their backs."
Flames broke out about 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the two-story, 13-unit building near Comcast Arena. The building's first floor contained shops, while the second story was apartments.
Angela Plumb, a former resident of the apartment building, told KOMO News that just before the fire she could hear a commotion in a unit across the hall.
She says she had just met the man who lived their earlier - and says he appeared troubled.
"When I spoke with him it was very obvious that he was in crisis," says Plumb.
She said after listening to what sounded like a fight in the man's apartment unit Thursday night, her friend looked out into the hallway.
"And when he opened the door it was just a black wall of smoke, and he turned to me and said, 'Get something to cover your face. We have to get out. It's on fire,'" she recounts.
Getting out of the apartment building was a terrifying ordeal, Plumb says. "I had to crawl along the floor and use my hands to even know what direction I was going."
The man across the hall never made it out.
Firefighters say what is left of the building is very unstable. Until it is shored up, they won't be able to start their investigation into how the fire started.
I'm so glad I live in a house. Apartment living is atrocious, no matter how you slice it!
Sorry for these people but, renter's insurance is cheap and will help prevent some of your heartache. I understand some landlords are requiring insurance as a provision of their lease.....good idea to make tenants have insurance to protect them. As for the death, I am so sorry, RIP!
The company you keep.
 @alildifferent The residents who lived there certainly didn't get to choose their neighbors.Â
Does anyone know how to get in contact with the people that where living there? I am looking for Danielle sigmund the one with twins I have some stuff to donate to her for the kids
 @shaw010 Call Red Cross and you may want to search Facebook. That is a wonderful thing you are doing.Â
How absolutely awful! Words can't even describe it. I hope everyone who lived there gets the assistance they need to get back on their feet and into safe housing. As for the one who died, I only hope he didn't suffer. Fire is a horrible way to go. May he rest in peace. I hope any responsible parties can be caught, since it sounds unlikely that his death was accidental, and whatever or whoever sparked off that blaze is responsible for the suffering of so many individuals, families, and businesses, as well as the loss of a historical building.
 @spacegoddess I heard one report that said he was emotionally disturbed lately yelling that there were 4 kids in his apartment and other delusional stuff. Sadly it may be that he was a victim of his damaged mind.