On November 13, 1997, an early morning fire in a large apartment building in Bremerton, WA, caused the death of four elderly residents and forced the evacuation of an additional 150 residents. Estimated property damage was in excess of $7.5 million. The fire, determined to be accidental, started in an unoccupied apartment (Apartment 316) and spread rapidly, trapping many residents. At least 21 people had to be rescued by firefighters using ground ladders. The construction features of the non-sprinkled building contributed to the fire spread. The blaze quickly involved the exterior walkway in the courtyard from the apartment door, communicated upward via pipe chases and utility shafts, and extended from the exterior rear window of the apartment of origin. Once in the attic, the inadequate and poorly constructed fire walls allowed rapid horizontal fire spread.