The Legal Chronicle
Roberto Sellem, Alixzandra Chalcraft, Elliott Chalcraft Tragically Lose Their Lives in Tukwila, WA Apartment Fire. (KOMOnews.com)
Could the deaths from this apartment fire have been prevented and are justice and compensation available to the victims families? Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
Local News
Update: According to KOMOnews.com, “[t]he coroner identified the victims as Roberto Sellem, 41; Alixzandra Chalcraft, 22, and Elliott Chalcraft, 3.”
An apartment fire in Tukwila, Washington early Tuesday morning, August 17, 2021, tragically claimed three lives.
As reported by KIRO7.com, “the fire started just after 5 a.m. Tuesday at the Maple Crest Apartments on 65th Avenue South near South 151st Street.”
KTVL.com is reporting, “[a]s of 2 p.m. Tuesday, crews were still working to extinguish lingering hot spots at Maple Crest Apartments, located at South 151st Street and 65th Avenue South. Authorities said the apartment building did not have sprinklers in the units that could have helped suppress the blaze. It was not immediately clear if the building or apartment units had working fire alarms.”
According to the report, “the bodies of a man, woman and a young girl — who all lived in the same apartment — were found by firefighters. Authorities had originally said one of the victims was initially reported missing but crews discovered the victim’s body later in the day. Four people suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene and released.”
KOMOnews.com is reporting, “[a]s of 2 p.m. Tuesday, crews were still working to extinguish lingering hot spots at Maple Crest Apartments.”
Fire inspectors continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
Our Legal Take
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As authorities continue their investigation, premises liability attorneys with The Murray Law Firm question whether a lack of fire safety measures at the complex may have contributed to this incident.
- What fire safety measures, such as working smoke detectors, fire sprinklers and emergency exits, were in place and working at the time of the fire?
- When was the last fire inspection performed on the property?
- Were any safety measures added after any previous inspections?
- Was the property owner aware of any inadequate fire safety measures present prior to the fire?
As details of this fire continue to emerge, The Murray Law Firm suggests that it is possible that the apartment complex failed to undertake proper safety measures to protect those residents and guests legally on the premises. Under certain State law, the owner and management company of an apartment complex have a duty to protect residents and to keep the premises safe. If the owner or manager fails in this duty, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths that occur as a consequence. Should the apartment complex be found at fault, the families of Roberto Sellem, Alixzandra Chalcraft, Elliott Chalcraft may elect to hold the owner and management company civilly liable for their loss and suffering. In addition, any injured victims may elect to hold the owner and management company civilly liable for their injuries.
As insurance companies and unscrupulous property owners are often concerned with limiting their financial exposure in these incidents, it is crucial that the families of Roberto Sellem, Alixzandra Chalcraft, Elliott Chalcraft retain an experienced premises liability firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as a faulty fire alarm or a poor evacuation plan, is preserved and the families best interests are protected. The Murray Law Firm has extensive experience in premises liability and apartment negligence cases, such as this, and we offer our legal expertise, if needed.
If anyone has information to share, or if anyone is seeking information regarding this incident, please contact us at 888.842.1616.
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