Charles Salazar misses his friend. Eugene Reets and Eugene's wife, Remy.

The Reets died together in the weekend blaze at the Emerald Place by the Lake Apartments in SeaTac on Jan. 18.

"He was a retired Marine who like to talk straight like John Wayne," Salazar recalls.

Salazar also admired the strong relationship that the couple shared.

He will miss his friends as winter turns to spring because Reets liked fishing, a pleasure that Reets many times invited Salazar to share with him.

Salazar couldn't fish with his friend for many years because of family and other responsibilities but Salazar said this year the companions had made definite plans to spend a day on the water. The apartment complex is near Angle Lake.

Salazar's eyes drift as he thinks about the good times that won't happen with his friend.

The men shared more than a daily beer just outside the Reets apartment while watching the goings on in the parking lot below. They also shared a faith. Charles recalls how the Reets went to church at 2 a.m. after Remy left her airport concession job with HMS.

Just days before the fire, Salazar and Reets discussed death and the afterlife.

"I asked him if he thought the spirit leaves the Earth after you die," Salazar said. "He just smiled at me and said, 'Why would anyone want to hang around here?'"

Salazar and his son, Hahns, frantically searched for the Reets the night of the fire.

"There-- right there-- in 315 is where Eugene stayed," Salazar declared. "I ran down here as soon as knew it was a fire because I knew Eugene was on oxygen and would need help."

Then his son pipes in, "I went around the whole building looking for them for two hours but I couldn't find them"

Many residents had to jump from their third-floor decks. Much of the frantic activity was captured by the Silver Dollar Casino's video equipment. The casino is next door.

Salazar said that according to neighbors, allegedly a disgruntled resident started a grease fire for reasons unknown and was so bold that he returned ten minutes later to brag about it.

Soon after that the entire Emerald Place complex was banging on doors trying to let others know there was a fire and to get out.

Not long after that Salazar was below his friend's place trying to peer through the heavy smoke to see any sign of them. But soon he became involved in assisting other residents.

Salazar finally learned Reets and his wife were found in their living room--together.

According to residents, when the Reets realized there was a fire outside, Eugene, Remy and a roommate tried to get away by using the front door. The smoke forced them back into the apartment and because of Eugene's compromised respiratory condition (he was using an oxygen tank) he just sat on the couch. He then urged his wife and roommate to escape off the back porch claiming that he would soon follow.

The female roommate reportedly said they both went to the back but only the roommate took the three-story drop. She broke her leg in the fall and was hospitalized.

On the other hand as much as anyone can tell, Remy returned to her husband on the couch and together they waited for the end with their arms wrapped around each other.

"They really loved each other very much," Salazar said softly.

The Wednesday after the fire would have been Eugene Reets' 63rd birthday.

Seven people were hospitalized for minor injuries, and 100 people were displaced from the complex in the 3000 block of South 192nd Street. Twenty-four units have been declared unlivable, while 24 units were undamaged. It took 18 hours to return power to the surviving units.

So many people have donated clothing and household items for the victims; the SeaTac Fire Department is unable to accept any more.

City officials are urging potential donors to give monetary contributions to the American Red Cross disaster assistance fund. Donations will go to victims of emergencies such as the SeaTac apartment fire.

To make a secure online donation, go to www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Checks can be made payable to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and sent to your local chapter or to P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.