Updated 10 a.m. Fire investigators have determined that Thurday’s early-morning fire was accidental and caused by overheated electrical wiring in the walls of the first floor, according to Helen Fitzpatrick with the Seattle Fire Department. Residents jumped from windows, and in one case, ran through flames to escape the fire in a large house on NW 67th St. near 23 Ave. NW in Loyal Heights just before 3 o’clock this morning.
When we arrived shortly after 3 a.m., firefighters were battling a fully-involved fire on the first floor. Medics were treating two injured residents among the six believed to be living at the house, rented in four units.
One man jumped from a second story window and suffered an ankle injury. Another man had suffered cuts and burns on his hands and feet, and residents say he ran through the flames to escape. Both men were taken to Harborview Medical Center.
“I woke up and saw orange in front of me,” said Alex, who lives on the first floor and escaped out a window. “The whole front was already lit up by time we were getting out.” Residents say the fire appeared to originate from the front porch. “In the first five minutes, the whole front was on fire and going upstairs,” Mike said, still dazed from his escape from the flames.
Residents told us that they don’t know what started the fire, but they said there was a “funny electrical smell” late last night. A fire marshal was called to the scene to investigate. The structure appears to be a total loss.
“This is right next door to me,” writes JorgeBob88 in comments below. “I woke up to a electrical smell, also. Had to close my windows due to the smoke…. When I heard the approaching sirens, I thought my building was on fire until I went into the living room and saw the flames.”
Firefighters worked more than an hour to control the fire, and it took nearly two hours to declare it “tapped,” or extinguished. The fire worked its way from the first and second floors up into the attic, where hotspots kept crews busy well after 4 a.m. Firefighters conducted a thorough search of the building, and fortunately everyone escaped.
Investigators say the damage to the building is estimated at $150,000, another $60,000 for the content inside and $5,000 for damage to an adjacent building. (Thanks Silver for your tips and updates in the forum!)
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Awesome reporting! I woke up to the smoke smell just after 3 a.m. and we live up on 87th. I thought maybe MyBallard had something on it? Sure enough.
I think everyone in Loyal Heights is awake…So many sirens! Hope everyone is okay! Glad to hear that the FD got it put out quickly
This is a few houses down from us. We think the fire is out but the smokes too thick to tell. There is also a chainsaw going but don’t know why.
Couple of doors down from us – fire contained but still thick smoke – our house is full of it from open windows.
Two injuries that I saw – male with both legs broken from jump and another male with 3rd degree burns on arms and legs. Burns like that are horrific to look at – this guy said he also jumped.
I woke just before 3am to the smell of smoke, a few houses down. Had to close my windows the smoke was so bad. Firemen and neighbors were already there well ahead of me. The chainsaw was because they were cutting holes in the roof to open areas for ventilation and to help extinguish the fire. It was still burning in the attic at 4am. I didn’t hear any ideas as to what started it, too early to ask.
I’m glad these people jumped rather than waiting for someone to come rescue them. probably saved their own lives.
So scary! Glad everyone made it out relatively ok. Swedes, will you please keep us updated on how to help the residents? Thanks!
Jenny – the chainsaw is used to cut holes in the house to get water to areas still burning. Fires burn between walls and in the attic, so the chainsaw exposes those areas for the firefighters.
the fire was already under control.
I think they just wanted to make sure there wasn’t anyone sleeping within a 50 block radius.
I live two blocks from this and didn’t hear a thing. Sad, but at tleast no one seems to be seriously injured….
Wow, I’m just four short blocks away. Not surprised I didn’t hear anything, but I’m surprised I didn’t smell smoke this morning.
This is right next door to me. I woke up to a electrical smell, also. Had to close my windows due to the smoke. I couldn’t get back to sleep due to the chainsaw action but I understand why they had to do it.
When I heard the approaching sirens, I thought my building was on fire until I went into the living room and saw the flames.
The fire was in Ballard not Loyal Heights>
?
Catherine and Jenny – Although we do sometimes use chainsaws to expose otherwise inaccesible spaces that are on fire, what you heard was most likely vertical ventilation efforts. We usually use hand tools such as axes and hooks to open walls and ceilings to search for fire extension. Using chainsaws inside in such close quarters to lots of other firefighters is not our first option.
Firefighters cut holes in the roof (over the fire) to remove heat and smoke. Doing this makes the interior more tenable for occupant survival and enhances firefighting operations such as extinguishment and search/rescue.
Most fires are not like TV/Hollywood. Unless the smoke is let out, there is usually heavy smoke down to the floor very quickly and almost no visibility. We crawl into buildings (staying low due to the heat) and try and find people and the fire by feel. We do have thermal imaging cameras but not enough for every firefighting team.
Yes, please advise us to any ways to assist these folks. No doubt it’s $$ they could use. Perhaps next time when smelling something not quite right they’ll call 911. Much like smelling raw gasoline when driving your car you stop and run fast.
SFD – good work. If you ever show up to our block (15 blocks north) please make all the noise you please! Two chainsaws? How about 10? no problem! I can bring extra pre-mix for the saws and extra coffee for you. RRRRRRRR. Bring it on. Do what you need.
Also, thanks for the explanations RE smoke / ventilation / fighting / etc. Very cool.
it bled, so it lead
Edog, I don’t know if you are a troll, or what your deal is. The people in the house were very very fortunate to get out, although one man had serious injuries. It was terrifying for them. Try empathy.
Edog // Jul 22, 2010 at 2:20 pm
“it bled, so it lead”
Wow. Please, go back on your medication. It’s nowhere near appropriate to make jokes when someone was not only badly burned, but lost their home.
i live two and a half blocks away, and didn’t hear a thing, which is wierd because i’m not that heavy of a sleeper, nor is my wife or my two young kids. i actually just commented to somebody after reading this story in the Times that maybe they don’t turn on the sirens full bore at 3:00am because they figure nobody is on the road (half joking). after reading the comments here though obviously not.
My cousin was the one who jumped out of the second story window. Broken ankles and surgery but he’ll be okay. Thank G-d he and everyone else made it out okay!