Fatal fire claims life of 62-year-old Washougal-area woman

A 62-year-old woman died Wednesday in an early morning fire that engulfed her house 12 miles east of Washougal.

Marlene Dorego, who had serious medical needs, died in the blaze at her manufactured home, 2232 North Fork Road, according to Skamania County Undersheriff Dave Cox.

A security company reported a fire alarm activation to dispatchers just after midnight. Two minutes later, a neighbor called 911 to report that the house was covered in flames, Cox said.

Firefighters arrived and began fighting the blaze.

Jay Martin, Dorego’s caregiver who lives in the residence when Dorego’s husband is away, escaped and was not injured, Cox said.

Martin was awakened by the sound of the fire alarm and found thick smoke had filled the house. He told deputies that he briefly saw Dorego before losing her in the smoke. Martin went outside and tried to gain access from the back of the residence, but by then the house was fully engulfed in flames, according to the sheriff’s office.

Firefighters remained on scene throughout the morning Wednesday, putting out hot spots so that investigators from the Clark County Fire Marshal’s Office could get inside. Firefighters left around 5:30 a.m., but were called back to the residence a half hour later when the smoldering embers re-ignited the fire, Cox said.

The house is about 3 miles from the nearest fire station, Skamania County Fire District 4.

By early afternoon, authorities had confirmed the fatality and identified Dorego as the victim. The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct the autopsy.

Fire investigators have not yet determined the cause of the blaze.