Oak Harbor deck fire nearly spreads to home before quick response
Smoke and crackling sent Mitchell Howard and Carla Farnell out of their Schooner Lane home just before flames could reach the house, and firefighters arrived within minutes.
Smoke, crackling and a fast-moving blaze on a Schooner Lane deck came perilously close to turning into a house fire in Oak Harbor. Mitchell Howard and Carla Farnell had just returned from errands when they realized something was wrong, got out with their cat and called 911 before the flames could spread farther.
North Whidbey Fire and Rescue received the call at 1:34 p.m. Monday, June 15, and Farnell said firefighters arrived about five to seven minutes later. A neighbor also ran over with a hose and stood ready to help if needed, underscoring how quickly a deck fire can force a whole street into emergency mode when it starts close to a home.
Fire Chief Chris Swiger said the burn patterns and the fire’s origin point suggest the cause was electrical. That detail turns the Oak Harbor fire into a local warning about outdoor wiring, deck outlets and any equipment that sits close to wood surfaces, especially when the first sign is smoke rather than open flame. Washington State Patrol State Fire Marshal’s Office guidance recommends qualified electricians and ground-fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, to reduce shock and fire risk.
The fire also highlights the role of the district that answers calls across North Whidbey Island outside Oak Harbor city limits. North Whidbey Fire and Rescue was established in 1950 and serves about 18,000 people across 55 square miles from Deception Pass Bridge to Libby Road. The district operates seven stations and reported 2,221 emergency calls in 2019. Swiger has served as chief since 2014.
The near-miss carries broader weight in Oak Harbor, a city of 23,000-plus on the northern end of Whidbey Island, where homes sit close together and access can depend on quick response from local crews. National Fire Protection Association estimates show local fire departments responded to an annual average of 46,652 home electrical structure fires from 2020 to 2024, causing 527 civilian deaths, 1,580 injuries and $2.4 billion in direct property damage each year. For Schooner Lane residents and neighbors across Island County, the message is plain: if a deck smells hot, crackles or shows signs of damaged electrical components, it deserves immediate attention before a small problem becomes a structural fire.
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