The cause of the fire that claimed the life of a Friday Harbor woman early Sunday morning appears to be accidental, according to Chief Steve Marler of the San Juan Island Fire Department. 

Sunday’s predawn blaze stands as the first fatal fire on San Juan Island in 28 years. 

Marler said Monday the a member of the Skagit County-based regional fire investigation task force had completed the on-scene portion of the investigation and preliminary findings show no sign that the deadly blaze or its cause are suspicious. He noted, however, that the investigation has yet to be completed and that the prosecuting attorney’s office, which doubles as the county coroner, will determine the cause of death of 49-year-old Sharon Hammel, who died in the fire. 

“It appears to be an accidental fire,” Marler said. “There’s nothing that’s jumped out at us that would suggest there’s anything suspicious about this fire. It is very sad though.” 

Employed by the town of Friday Harbor the past four years, Hammel was one of the more visible members of the town workforce. She was lead caretaker of the town Parks Department and her duties included caring for the town’s green spaces, mowing park lawns and the annual care and maintenance of the numerous flower baskets that adorn the town streets lights and utility poles. She worked at the garden center of Browne’s Home Center prior to join the town. 

Friday Harbor Mayor Carrie Lacher said losing one of their own so suddenly and violently has left town employees grief-stricken. The town will conduct a 10-15 minute observance and recognition in memory of Hammel when the town council meets Thursday at noon. 

“We’re just such a tight-knit family and this has just been so shocking and upsetting,” Lacher said. “It’s truly devastating.” 

Two others escaped the fire. Marler said that a man in his mid-20s, a tenant at Hammel’s Park Street home, was roused by a smoke alarm and then went to help Hammel’s 15-year-old son flee the burning home. 

According to the Sheriff’s Department, dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call about a fire at Hammel’s Park Street on Sunday, at 2:11 a.m. They were notified by the caller that a bedroom in the rear of the house was in flames and someone was believed to be inside. A Sheriff’s deputy and two firefighters arrived at the home about four minutes after the 9-1-1 call and tried without success to rescue the person from the burning bedroom. 

The first fire engine arrived on scene about six minutes after the 9-1-1 call.  

Marler said the intensity of the fire thwarted repeated attempts to get inside the back bedroom, where Hammel’s body was later found.  

“Firefighters were dispatched to the fire knowing there was a person inside one of the bedrooms,” he said. “When they arrived the one bedroom was engulfed in flames from wall to wall and from floor to ceiling.”  

Firefighters were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to the main part of the home in spite of the intensity of the blaze in the back bedroom. 

“The actual fire damage was pretty much held to a single room,” Marler said. “It’s probably not much solace, but the family should be able to salvage a lot of   

— A memorial account has been established at the Friday Harbor branch of Whidbey Island Bank, which will be used to assist Hammel’s son in the wake of the deadly fire. For info about the account or how to donate, contact Whidbey Island Bank at 370-5641, or Joy Lord at 370-0501