Two Presumed Dead After House Fire Near Hunters

Two people are presumed dead following a house fire near Hunters in Stevens County on Feb. 11.

Fire crews responded to a fully involved structure fire in the 6700 block of Springdale-Hunters Road, approximately a half-mile outside of Hunters. Stevens County Fire District 2 Chief Rick Anderson said firefighters were advised that two individuals were inside the home when crews arrived.

According to information shared through an online fundraiser, the victims are believed to be 89-year-old Iona Hill and 22-year-old Dylan Young ,who reportedly re-entered the burning home in an attempt to rescue her. Four of the other occupants were able to escape the fire safely.

A GoFundMe page created to assist the surviving family members stated that homeowner Jennifer Hill had been widowed in November 2024 and had lived in the residence for more than 18 years. She and three others reportedly made it out of the house before it was fully engulfed.

The online campaign states that funds will be used to help secure housing for the homeowner and her two sons after the loss of their home and belongings. As of this week, more than $6,600 had been raised toward a $7,000 goal. Law enforcement said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.