Update: 4 escape accidental fire south of Morgan Junction

(Photos by Tony Bradley)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:11 PM: Big Fire Department response to the 6900 block of California Avenue SW right now, possible house fire, though the first engines are not seeing any flames.

7:14 PM UPDATE: Apparently a small fire that’s out, but there’s a big traffic backup because the fire units are blocking California SW northbound – avoid the area (California/Frontenac vicinity).

7:32 PM UPDATE: Firefighters are calling for Red Cross help for two adults and two children who got out OK but will need some place to stay.

7:59 PM UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore tells us this started as a kitchen fire and was indeed tapped within 10 minutes. Medics evaluated one person, but no treatment was needed.

11:59 PM UPDATE: Moore has more info on the fire – investigators confirm it was an accidental cooking fire, with damage estimated at $10,000 to the structure, $10,000 to contents.

MrMatt October 12, 2012 (7:16 pm)

I’m *still* hearing sirens heading down there.

Must’ve been a big call-up…?

Hockeywitch October 12, 2012 (7:18 pm)

3 engines and a Ladder truck just flew down the Morgan St hill from 35th. Hope everyone and their pets are ok and got out safely.

SeaChanty51 October 12, 2012 (7:25 pm)

Some units now leaving the area.

WSB October 12, 2012 (7:27 pm)

It’s a small fire and it’s out. But they as always had to send the full response, and now some are canceling to leave. Thanks.

Lyn October 12, 2012 (7:31 pm)

I think you mean the “California/Fauntleroy” vicinity?

EmmaPeel October 12, 2012 (7:32 pm)

I wondered what was going on…I live behind the McDonalds…didn’t smell smoke, but lots of response!

Sally October 12, 2012 (7:34 pm)

what is a mar5? one has been dispatched? investigative unit?

elisabethf October 12, 2012 (7:44 pm)

Wow, from the huge response I was hearing north of the junction, it seemed like a major disaster had occurred! Glad everyone’s okay.

cjboffoli October 12, 2012 (7:49 pm)

Sally: That’s the fire marshal.. usually dispatched to determine the cause of the fire.

WSB October 12, 2012 (7:51 pm)

Lyn – no, the traffic control was dispatched for California/Frontenac. That’s the intersection north of the commercial buildings with Caffe Ladro etc.

Patrick October 12, 2012 (7:52 pm)

@ Sally, MAR5 is deputy Marshall unit #5, in essence, yes, and investigative unit

Rick October 12, 2012 (7:56 pm)

At about the same time I saw an SPD unit eastbound on Holly at Cal with blue lights on and one northbound in the alley behind Starbucks from Holly to Morgan. Blue lights also. ?

WSB October 12, 2012 (8:35 pm)

Rick – SPD dispatched a few units to help with traffic because it’s a major arterial. There also was a crash – not huge – in southeast WS around that time so there’s a chance one unit might have headed that way.

West Seattle Since 1979 October 12, 2012 (8:06 pm)

Glad they got out OK.

Rick October 12, 2012 (8:40 pm)

Thanks WSB

Wattsmith October 13, 2012 (8:53 am)

Thank you for the responses. Our neighbors as well as us were on the phone calling the fire station probably had 4 or 5 calls reporting the fire, thusly the turn out. This could of gotten really bad. I didn’t want to have it get thoroughly out of control so I went in and suppressed the fire got the flames knock down and put it out with a garden hose ( I do not suggest anyone do that) about 2 to 3 minute before the fire dept. arrived.

WSB October 13, 2012 (9:08 am)

Wattsmith, thanks for the info. Just so everyone knows – the size of the response does NOT depend on how many people call. A house fire report of any kind has a standard (and large) response, as has been discussed here before (I have to go find the link for one expert explanation), as does a “fire in building” (the term if it’s an apartment, duplex, business building, etc. The standard large response goes out and then is pulled back if appropriate – it could be a matter of life and death and the philosophy is to get all the resources there just in case, rather than to have one or two units get there and say “oh, we need more help.”
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(added) This is the comment with expert explanation of “fire in building” – multifamily, commercial, school, etc. – response. A little bigger than the standard single-family-home response but it’ll give you an idea of how it works.
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https://westseattleblog.com/2012/08/alki-fire-no-one-hurt/comment-page-1#comment-899053