According to Whatcom County Fire District 7 Assistant Chief Larry Hoffman, there was smoke throughout the structure when they arrived. Upon entering the office building, flames could be seen pushing through the ceiling tiles from the attic space.
(Click to enlarge photos below. Photos: Discover Ferndale)
While much of the damage in the building was from smoke, there was also some water damage, part of which was the result of the fire melting a plastic water pipe in the attic space. That served as sort of sprinkler system, said Hoffman, helping to put out the fire.
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Hoffman said an electrical malfunction was initially suspected to be the cause.
Fire fighters cut a hole in the roof to exhaust smoke and heat from the attic space (see video below).
Fire crews had been called out earlier in the day to investigate smoke odor at that location.
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