May 31—A Seattle Fire Investigator determined an early morning home fire in the Phinney Ridge/Ballard neighborhood was accidental. The investigator determined the fire resulted from the overheating of an electrical service wire.
At 1:59 a.m., Firefighters were called to a home in the 6500 block of 3rd Avenue NW. Phinney Ridge’s Engine 21 arrived first to find smoke coming from a three-story multi-family residence. All of the occupants safely evacuated by the time the firefighter arrived on the scene.
Due to their quick response, firefighters were able to contain the fire to a wall in the basement of the building. Within 11 minutes of first putting water on the fire, fire crews extinguished the flames.
The Red Cross was called out to assist the evacuated residents.
The Fire investigators estimate the dollar loss at $5,000.