Crime & Safety

Authorities Finalize Cause of Fatal Jan. 1 Apartment Fire as 'Undetermined'

The New Year's Day fire killed a 32-year-old Redmond man and four young boys.

Investigators from the have officially declared the cause of a fatal New Year's Day apartment fire as "undetermined," the city announced in a news release Monday afternoon.

The early-morning fire at the claimed the lives of five people: 32-year-old David Thompson and his four young sons, aged 12, 6, 4 and 2. Thompson's wife was the only person to survive the blaze.

According to the news release, Redmond fire officials recently received test results from Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Forensics Laboratory in Maryland that determined the tested electrical samples did not cause the fire. The test results were the final piece of information needed to complete the report.

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“We appreciate the efforts of all agencies outside of Redmond who were part of this response including the ATF, Washington State Patrol and Seattle Police,” Assistant Fire Marshall Lynn Sjolander said in the news release. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected in this situation including the family, friends, residents, staff, and first responders.” 


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