FOLLOWUP: Puget Ridge fire was accidental, ignited by lamp

(WSB photo, midday Monday)
Seattle Fire crews are still keeping “fire watch” at the scene of last night’s house fire in the 5200 block of 18th SW on Puget Ridge (WSB coverage here). And SFD spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl has just sent word of what investigators determined: The fire was accidental.

(WSB photo, midday Monday)
She adds that damage is estimated at “$250,000 loss to structure and $50,000 to contents. A lamp tipped over and ignited some clothing. There was a delay in calling the fire department as the resident tried to extinguish the fire twice.” As SFD reminds in this post on the SFD Fire Line site, please don’t ever wait to call for help:

… A resident used two fire extinguishers to fight the visible flames. When the fire appeared to be extinguished, he left the room. A short time later he returned to find a fully involved room fire. He and his roommates attempted again to put water on the fire but it grew too fast. Once they realized that they couldn’t conquer the rapidly growing fire, they called 9-1-1 and exited the building. Having a fire extinguisher in an accessible location can help keep your home fire safe. The most important step is to immediately call 9-1-1 at the first sign of a fire. Once you know that help is on the way, you can then decide if the fire is small enough to utilize your fire extinguisher. …

You’ll find even more safety information in the Fire Line update.

6 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Puget Ridge fire was accidental, ignited by lamp"

  • Safety Conscious November 23, 2015 (1:56 pm)

    Wow, thank you for posting this update. I’m really glad everyone is ok. I would not have thought to monitor a fire I thought was out, this is really important information!

  • Kathy November 23, 2015 (2:40 pm)

    Incandescent bulb? A good reason to use LED bulbs, much safer plus they save energy. I also prefer induction hotplates to conventional for cooking because they turn off automatically when you remove the pot. I’m very glad everyone is safe.

  • steve November 23, 2015 (4:25 pm)

    I was driving thru 35th at 7pm, I knew something big was burning due to the thick smoke, almost 20 blocks away!
    Yes, curious what kind of bulb. I’m beginning to think fluorescent bulbs are not safe. I’ve seen a couple blow up for no reason at all. And of course incandescent can get very hot. LED may be the safest way to go, but I haven’t tried them yet.

  • Diane November 23, 2015 (7:13 pm)

    comment from the family in original story; this is so very sad; we really need to do better for our elders still living in their homes

  • Anna Arkwright November 25, 2015 (5:45 pm)

    Does anyone know if all the other cats made it out ok? I only see mention of one cat and I know the homeowner had many more than one.

  • jason November 29, 2015 (1:17 am)

    Yes i believe so i check on the house 2 or 3 times a day and feed the cats the owner has 2 of them and the dog with her we are getting ready to start repairing the home soon

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