Chapelle News

Marysville House Fire Kills Seventy Year Old Woman and Her Service Dog, Leaving Her Husband Treated for Smoke Inhalation and Their Home Heavily Damaged

MARYSVILLE, WA — A house fire in Marysville killed a 70-year-old woman and her longtime service dog Sunday morning, according to fire officials. The woman’s husband called 911 after seeing heavy smoke and fire damage and saying his wife was unresponsive inside the home on 88th Street.

Marysville Fire District crews responded around 9:21 a.m. and found smoke but no active flames when they arrived, an assistant fire chief said. The woman and the dog were pronounced dead in the home. Investigators have not yet determined what caused the fire.

Fire District Response

Fire officials said crews moved quickly to the home after the emergency call came in Sunday morning. The husband, Ron Armstrong, later identified the woman as his wife of 54 years, Debra Armstrong. He said she was 70 years old and had been in hospice care because of stage 4 throat cancer.

Armstrong was treated for smoke inhalation after returning to the house from an overnight shift. Authorities said no other injuries were reported. Fire crews did not report an active fire when they got there, only smoke and the aftermath inside the home.

What Happened Inside

Armstrong told KOMO News that when he opened the garage door into the living room, he smelled smoke and saw that everything inside was blackened. He said he found his wife on the bedroom floor and believed she had tried to reach the telephone to call 911.

He also said Debra Armstrong had been afraid of being alone as she neared the end of her cancer battle. The couple had lived together in Marysville for years, and he said he was not home when the fire first began. Officials have not said how the fire started or whether the smoke damage came from one room or spread through the house.

Next Steps And Damage

Fire authorities said the home has significant smoke damage, and Armstrong will not be able to live there right away. They expect he may be able to return after cleaning and restoration work are completed. In the meantime, he said he likely will stay with his adult son.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire, and Marysville Fire District is the agency to check for updates. For now, the confirmed facts are limited to the fatality, the dog’s death, the smoke damage, and the husband’s treatment after the fire.

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