October 17—Seattle Fire Investigators determined a fire at a Capitol Hill multi-unit building was an electrical fire in the stove. The fire is being classified as accidental.
At 9:46 a.m. a 911 call came into the Fire Alarm Center reporting smoke and fire at a 3-story building located in the 1000 block of Summit Avenue East. Engine Company 25 arrived and was directed to the basement unit of the building by one of the occupants. The basement and first floor were filled with smoke.
An occupant of the building was still inside his basement unit and unable to evacuate due to a medical condition. Firefighters assisted him out of the basement unit where he was evaluated by Medics. He did not suffer any injuries.
The fire started on the stove and extended into the basement unit cabinets and into the walls of the building which was converted into 3 condominiums. Due to the challenge in digging the fire out of the walls and floors, it took 45 minutes for firefighters to get the fire under control.
The smoke and fire damage made it impossible for the three occupants to reoccupy the units.
The damage estimate is $70,000.