South Sound News

Puyallup man finds wedding ring in home destroyed by fire; family dog killed

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — An investigation is underway after a Pierce County family's home was gutted by a raging fire Saturday evening.

When crews arrived on the scene, they saw a fully involved mobile home fire in the 8100 block of 156th Street Court East near 80th Avenue at the Western Ranchet mobile home park.

Video showed the flames just after 3 p.m. ripping through the mobile home and shooting in the air.

The fire killed the family's dog and destroyed a shed, and several neighboring homes were damaged because of setbacks, officials said. No one else was home at the time.

The homeowner, Darren Sulzle, was crying when he told KIRO 7 his dog, Espe, was found dead. "Everything else can be replaced, but... no people died, I mean, like I said, it could've been a lot worse."

Sulzle said a neighbor called him while he was at the grocery store. "We immediately just left our shopping cart and ran to the car."

"Until a person experiences or goes through -- I don't know how or what to do," Sulzle said.

One thing Sulzle did find in the rubble was his wedding ring. "Got my wedding ring," he said.

Sulzle said the only things his family was left with was the clothes on their backs. "Never been in this situation. It's hard to start over."

The Red Cross has stepped in to help the family.

The Pierce County fire marshal said he is investigating the cause of the fire.

The community has raised more than $700 to help the family.

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