October 14—A Seattle Fire Investigator determined a fatal North Seattle Fire was accidental. After examining the evidence, the investigator determined a pinched electrical cord in the bedroom was the most likely cause of the fire which took one man’s life and injured another tenant.

At 3:32 a.m. dispatchers at the Fire Alarm Center received a 911 call reporting a fire in an apartment unit in the 10500 block of Greenwood Avenue North. Engine Company 31 arrived to find heavy black smoke pouring from the bottom floor unit of a two-story apartment complex. Witnesses reported one man was believed to be still inside the unit.

Firefighters entered the unit and found heavy black smoke and flames rolling through the apartment which was piled with combustible materials. Crews found a deceased male 10 feet from the door. It took crews about half-an-hour to completely extinguish the flames.

Paramedics treated the resident who lived above the fire unit for minor smoke inhalation.

The Medical Examiner and Seattle Police Department’s Arson Bomb Squad Detectives were called to the scene which is standard operating procedure for fatal fires. The Medical Examiner has taken possession of the body and will determine cause of death.

The damage estimate is $250,000 to the structure and $50,000 damage to the contents. The downstairs unit is uninhabitable. The habitability of the upstairs unit is still being assessed.

One resident was displaced but is staying with family members.

The fire investigator did not find a working smoke detector in the bottom floor fire unit. The upstairs unit’s smoke detector had been disabled.

The Seattle Fire Department recommends you install at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home including one in every bedroom. Also you should test your smoke alarms each month to make sure they are working. In order to keep your smoke alarm working properly, clean the units each month of dust and cobwebs, Change your smoke alarm batteries at least one a year and replace the smoke alarm once every ten years.

October 14—A Seattle Fire Investigator continue to look into the cause of a fire which took the life of one man and injured another in North Seattle.

At 3:32 a.m. dispatchers at the Fire Alarm Center received a 911 call reporting a fire in an apartment unit in the 10500 block of Greenwood Avenue North. Engine Company 31 arrived to find heavy black smoke pouring from the bottom floor unit of a two-story apartment complex. Witnesses reported one man was believed to be still inside the unit.

Firefighters entered the unit and found heavy black smoke and flames rolling through the apartment which was piled with combustible materials. Crews found a deceased male 10 feet from the door. It took crews about half-an-hour to completely extinguish the flames.

Paramedics treated the resident who lived above the fire unit for minor smoke inhalation.

The Medical Examiner and Seattle Police Department’s Arson Bomb Squad Detectives were called to the scene which is standard operating procedure for fatal fires.

The cause is still under investigation. The damage estimate is still being determined.

One resident was displaced but is staying with family members.