Community Police & Fire
Two found dead following ‘suspicious’ fire on 14th Avenue in Gig Harbor
UPDATE: The Sheriff’s Office posted late Thursday that it is seeking security footage from the neighborhood around the home.
Attention, Gig Harbor:
PCSO is investigating a death in the 15600 block of 14th Ave NW, Gig Harbor, between 7:15-8:15pm on 4/8/25. We’re looking for any security footage which captured traffic, or suspicious activity, along 14 Ave NW/SE 160th St. Use the QR Code to submit video pic.twitter.com/NUtLFb6oOM
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) April 11, 2025
Two people were found dead following a house fire on 14th Avenue NW in Gig Harbor on Tuesday evening, April 8.
A Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman called the fire and deaths “suspicious.” Investigators from the sheriff’s office, Pierce County Fire Marshal’s Office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms remained on scene at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Investigators at the scene of a fire on 14th Avenue NW on Wednesday, April 9. Two people were found dead following the fire. Photo by Vince Dice
The spokeswoman, Deputy Carly Cappetto, told Gig Harbor Now that at least one of the victims “did not die from the explosion or fire and it was not a natural cause of death, therefore making it suspicious.”
House Fire with Two Deceased
Pierce County Deputies, along with Gig Harbor Fire, responded to a fully engulfed house fire located at the 15500 Block of 14th Ave. NW in Gig Harbor. Two deceased victims have been located inside the home. pic.twitter.com/Sw98yf7ftB
— Pierce Co Sheriff (@PierceSheriff) April 9, 2025
Cappetto said the second body was too badly burned to determine how the victim might have died. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office will make an official determination of both victims’ cause and manner of death.
The scene of a fire and criminal investigation on Wednesday, April 9. Two people were found dead following the fire late Tuesday. Photo by Vince Dice
Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One responded to the fire around 8 p.m. Tuesday. They found the home fully engulfed and called a second alarm. Key Peninsula Fire and West Pierce Fire responded to help.
“We are treating this as an active investigation with suspicious circumstances,” Cappetto said.
In the social media post, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said neighbors reported hearing a large explosion at the house. Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One Division Chief Tom Wescott said firefighters responding to the scene could see the flames from a mile away.
The fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.
88th Avenue fire
Gig Harbor Fire also responded to a second fire on Tuesday evening. One person was injured in that fire, which occurred around 10 p.m. on the 4400 block of 88th Avenue NW, in the Arletta area.
Key Peninsula and West Pierce firefighters also assisted with the second fire. Some firefighters went directly from the 14th Avenue fire to the 88th Avenue fire.
Wescott said the home sustained significant damage. Its cause has not yet been determined. There is no indication the two fires are related.
A GoFundMe campaign for the victims of the 88th Avenue fire has been established here.