EVERETT, Wash. — Authorities say 3-year-old twins who were pulled from a burning apartment at Olin Fields Apartments, 10115 Holly Drive in Everett in January helped save their own lives.
Fire investigators say the twins were left alone in the apartment when it caught fire.
A fire marshal in the area saw the smoke and rushed to help get out other residents and try to get in to help the girls.
Neighbors say a relative of the girls came home and was screaming about the girls and neighbors held her back from entering the burning apartment.
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The flames spread quickly to the second and third floors. The building does not have a sprinkler system or hard-wired smoke alarms.
One of the girls was found hiding in a bedroom in the corner near the window next to a blanket with the characters from "Frozen." Incredibly, a very small area of that room had less damage.
The Fire Department confirmed that both twins were transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. One is currently was ICU in serious condition, and the other was in satisfactory condition. Both twins are now OK.
Two Everett firefighters who recounted the twins' rescue to the Everett Herald said the bedroom door was shut, which kept the fire from getting in the room where the twins were.
One girl later told her mother they shut the door because the smoke smelled bad.
Fire investigators are working to determine how the fire started. Everett police say after they determine the cause, they will investigate who left the children alone. Given the circumstances, police say the person who left the girls alone could face child abandonment or child endangerment.
Earlier Monday, Everett Fire had reported the twins were 2 years old:
Update Holly Dr Fire : 2 yo patient has been diverted to Harborview Hospital. Both patients are being send to Harborview Hospital, no status on condition.
— Everett Fire WA (@EverettFire) January 29, 2018
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