Bellingham, WA – Bellingham Fire Department and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue crews reported to Yew Street after a 911 caller saw smoke coming from an upstairs window. Before the crew’s arrival, a neighbor broke a window and entered the house to use a portable fire extinguisher to knock down the flames before fire authorities arrived. Afterwards, the Bellingham Fire Captain explained, “Fire extinguishers are designed to interfere with the growth of a fire during the incipient, or early, phase of a fire. The use of an extinguisher had a direct impact on this fire, allowing the resident to remain in the house and resulting in very little damage being caused by this fire.”