Woman awakens in time to escape bedroom fire

YAKIMA -- A Yakima woman escaped a blaze in her bedroom early Thursday after she was awakened by a mysterious knocking sound.

The fire occurred at 1:17 a.m. in an apartment building in the 300 block of South Sixth Street.

Damage was contained to the woman's bedroom, Acting Battalion Chief Rocky Willette said in a Yakima Fire Department news release.

He said the woman was awakened by a knocking sound and discovered smoke and fire in her room.

A neighbor came to her aid and called 9-1-1, Willette said. The woman was treated for smoke inhalation and released.

The knocking sound was most likely an electrical breaker tripping, Willette said, noting there were no smoke detectors in the apartment.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Willette said investigators suspect the fire was accidental in nature.