Victim in Soap Lake fire identified

SOAP LAKE - A man who died in a Sunday morning fire was identified as David C. Dally, 58.

Dally was identified by officials at the Grant County Coroner's Office Tuesday. Officials said he died of smoke inhalation.

Dally died during a fire that broke out Sunday at Soap Lake Garden Apartments, 327 Division St. The six-unit apartment complex was destroyed in the fire. None of the other tenants were injured.

Glenn Quantz, the city's fire chief and police chief (director of public safety) said the authorities still don't know the cause of the fire or where it started. "Neither one of them are established yet," he said.

Investigators have examined the remains of the apartment complex and have been interviewing witnesses, Quantz said.

Damage to the building forced all residents to find alternative housing, Quantz said. He praised the efforts of the Red Cross in helping the fire victims.

The fire was reported at about 2 a.m. Sunday, and required the efforts of firefighters from six departments to extinguish it. Firefighters from Soap Lake, Grant County Fire District No. 7, Grant County Fire District No. 13, Ephrata Fire Department and Quincy Fire Department fought the fire.

Fire trucks were on the scene until about 8 a.m. Sunday.