SEATTLE – On February 23 at 5:12 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to the 1700 Block of 17th Avenue South for a fire in an apartment building. Engine 13 arrived first on-scene and saw flames coming from the windows of the four-unit apartment complex. Crews quickly applied water on the fire and upgraded the response to a 2-alarm fire bringing in additional firefighters.
It was reported that all occupants had safely evacuated the building prior to Seattle Fire’s arrival on-scene. Ladder truck companies searched the building as a precaution and cut holes in the roof to help ventilate the structure. There were no reported injuries to members of the public or firefighters.
Crews had most of the fire under control within 31 minutes. Due to the quick work of firefighters, the fire was mostly contained to the apartment unit on the top floor where the fire started. Seattle City Light shut off power to the building, and the Seattle Department of Transportation applied sand on the roads to reduce the icy conditions from water run-off.
The American Red Cross responded to the scene to provide assistance to eight adults and four children who were displaced by the fire. Fire investigators ruled the fire as accidental, and determined it was caused by an electrical issue from a power strip in the living room of the fire unit. Estimated loss is $250,000 to structure and $100,000 to contents.