Victims identified in fatal Moses Lake house fire
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 17 hours, 16 minutes AGO
The victims who died in a house fire on Miller Drive Northeast have been identified.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | January 8, 2026 5:15 PM
MOSES LAKE — The victims in an early-morning house fire in Moses Lake on Wednesday have been identified.
Tim Catlin, death investigator with the Grant County Coroner’s Office, said the victims were Nikki Leggett, 30, and Zaccari Miller, 29.
“The cause of death for both is going to be asphyxia due to inhalation of smoke,” Catlin said.
The fire was reported at about 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, said Moses Lake Fire Chief Art Perillo in a Wednesday press release. The house was near the intersection of Miller Drive and Highland Drive Northeast.
Initial reports said people were still inside the house, Perillo said.
“Upon arrival, crews found the residence heavily involved in fire and immediately initiated fire suppression and search operations,” Perillo said.
Two other people escaped the house, but Miller and Leggett did not, he said. The house did not have smoke alarms, said Lynne Lynch, communications and marketing specialist for the city of Moses Lake.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Victims identified in fatal Moses Lake house fire
MOSES LAKE — The victims in an early-morning house fire in Moses Lake Wednesday have been identified. Tim Catlin, death investigator with the Grant County Coroner’s Office, said the victims were Nikki Leggett, 30, and Zaccari Miller, 29. “The cause of death for both is going to be asphyxia due to inhalation of smoke,” Catlin said.
Williams named interim city administrator in Othello
OTHELLO — Finance Director Spencer Williams will be appointed as interim city administrator while Othello city officials look for a permanent replacement. Mayor Ken Johnson said the search is just getting started.
Seven Basin school districts to run EP&O levies in February
EPHRATA — Voters in seven Columbia Basin school districts will be asked to accept or reject educational programs and operations levy proposals in a special election Feb. 10. Ephrata voters will decide on a construction bond in the Ephrata School District, and Warden district patrons will consider a proposal for technology improvements. Votes must be postmarked by Feb. 10, and mailing them at the post office on Election Day doesn’t guarantee that, said Ben Rodwell, elections deputy with the Grant County Auditor’s Office. “I would say (mail the ballot) at least a week early,” Rodwell said. “I wouldn’t recommend mailing it the day of the election.”