Seattle — At 7:38 p.m., the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting an exterior fire on the back deck of a two-story house in the 500 block of 34th Ave. in the Leschi neighborhood. Engine 6 arrived first on scene and reported significant flames coming from the back of the home and extending into the first floor as well as a car port located on the south side of the building. They immediately requested a 2-alarm response for additional resources. Residents of the home were able to safely evacuate.
Battalion 2 arrived shortly after and assumed command. The wind-driven fire extended to both floors with flames showing from all sides of the home. Power lines fell down on the northside of the building, preventing firefighter’s access. Battalion 2 upgraded the incident to a 3-alarm fire, then established a defensive strategy where crews put water on the fire at a safe distance away from the building while protecting neighboring homes.
Firefighters evacuated the neighboring homes as a safety precaution. At 8:10 p.m., crews reported flames through the roof. Partially collapsing five minutes later. Indicating the building was structurally compromised making it unsafe for firefighters to enter. Ladder 3 moved in front of the involved home to setup their aerial ladder to put water on the fire from a higher vantage point. Flames damaged adjacent homes, but firefighters were able to prevent the fire from extending further.
The fire was declared under control by 8:58 p.m. and incident command began downgrading the response. A unit will remain on scene overnight to monitor for flare ups. Two residents were displaced from the primary house involved in the fire. Neighbors were able to return to their homes. Seattle City Light shut off electricity to the block as a safety precaution but are working overnight to restore power.
No injuries were reported, and the incident is under investigation.
Important note for residents within a two-block radius of the fire: Firefighters accessed multiple hydrants to fight the fire. If your tap water is discolored be sure to run cold water for a few minutes to see if it clears up. If it does not, let the water sit for a few hours, then try running cold water again. Avoid using hot water while the cold tap is discolored as this can fill your water tank with turbid water.
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