Updated 10 a.m. Fire investigators have determined that Thurday’s early-morning fire was accidental and caused by overheated electrical wiring in the walls of the first floor, according to Helen Fitzpatrick with the Seattle Fire Department. Residents jumped from windows, and in one case, ran through flames to escape the fire in a large house on NW 67th St. near 23 Ave. NW in Loyal Heights just before 3 o’clock this morning.
When we arrived shortly after 3 a.m., firefighters were battling a fully-involved fire on the first floor. Medics were treating two injured residents among the six believed to be living at the house, rented in four units.
One man jumped from a second story window and suffered an ankle injury. Another man had suffered cuts and burns on his hands and feet, and residents say he ran through the flames to escape. Both men were taken to Harborview Medical Center.
“I woke up and saw orange in front of me,” said Alex, who lives on the first floor and escaped out a window. “The whole front was already lit up by time we were getting out.” Residents say the fire appeared to originate from the front porch. “In the first five minutes, the whole front was on fire and going upstairs,” Mike said, still dazed from his escape from the flames.
Residents told us that they don’t know what started the fire, but they said there was a “funny electrical smell” late last night. A fire marshal was called to the scene to investigate. The structure appears to be a total loss.
“This is right next door to me,” writes JorgeBob88 in comments below. “I woke up to a electrical smell, also. Had to close my windows due to the smoke…. When I heard the approaching sirens, I thought my building was on fire until I went into the living room and saw the flames.”
Firefighters worked more than an hour to control the fire, and it took nearly two hours to declare it “tapped,” or extinguished. The fire worked its way from the first and second floors up into the attic, where hotspots kept crews busy well after 4 a.m. Firefighters conducted a thorough search of the building, and fortunately everyone escaped.
Investigators say the damage to the building is estimated at $150,000, another $60,000 for the content inside and $5,000 for damage to an adjacent building. (Thanks Silver for your tips and updates in the forum!)