SEATTLE — At 5:42 p.m., firefighters at Station 6, in the Central District, noticed black smoke coming from a neighboring apartment building in the 2600 block of S. Jackson St. Crews notified the Fire Alarm Center and requested them to dispatch a full response consisting of five fire engines, three ladder trucks and additional support units to the scene. As firefighters made access to the apartment unit, three children and their mother escaped the fire and sheltered inside Station 6. Additional firefighters and paramedics arrived to provide medical care. All four family members were in stable condition and declined transportation to a hospital.
By 5:46 p.m., crews put water on the fire and began searching the apartment for occupants. Later confirming the entire building was all clear. They were able to extinguish the fire by 6:06 p.m. Unfortunately, two firefighters sustained injuries, and both were transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition.
Investigators determined the fire was accidental, and likely caused by an overloaded electrical outlet. The American Red Cross was requested to assist the displaced family.
Safety Tip: Avoid plugging in multiple appliances and electronic devices into a single wall outlet. Power strips add more outlets but should only be used for items that require light loads such as computers, printers and clocks, for example. They are not made to handle microwaves, refrigerators, portable heaters or hair dryers.