West Seattle fires 1004 results

Update: Fire call in 9000 block of 20th SW, but no fire

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| Delridge | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

2:49 AM: Big Seattle Fire response on the way to a call in the 9000 block of 20th SW. Updates to come.

2:53 AM: First units on scene aren’t finding any sign of smoke or fire, so most of the units are being canceled.

3:12 AM: Our crew has verified at the scene, no fire. Residents say they smelled smoke and thought they saw some, but nothing turned up.

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Update: House-fire call in 4000 block SW Holgate

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
7:47 AM: Big Seattle Fire response for a possible house fire in North Admiral, in the 4000 block of Holgate (map). More to come.

7:50 AM: Small fire – it’s already reported tapped, and some units are being sent back.

8:07 AM: The fire was indeed small and was on the back porch, Seattle Fire is telling us on scene. Their investigator is currently trying to figure out how it started. No injuries.

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Update: Short-lived fire call in North Admiral

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

3:25 AM: If you wondered about the sirens – Seattle Fire crews have responded to an address in the 1300 block of California SW (map) for a possible house fire.

3:37 AM: The call already has been closed/canceled (and a few minutes later, our crew arrived, verifying no one from SFD remained on scene).

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Update: Small fire at house in 5200 block of Delridge, no one hurt

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
1:53 PM: Seattle Fire has a house-fire-sized response headed for an address in the 5200 block of Delridge Way SW (map). Smoke can be seen from the house. More as we get it.

2:08 PM: SFD tweets that it was a “room fire” and it’s out now. Nobody hurt. Investigators will be working to figure out how it started.

2:14 PM: Our crew at the scene says Delridge is closed because of the fire vehicles, and they expect to be there another 45 minutes or so. The fire apparently started in/on a mattress, and nobody was home, according to the incident commander. (Added: Closure zone is roughly Findlay to Hudson.)

4:27 PM: Added a photo of the aforementioned mattress (what’s left of it). Thanks to everyone who’s provided updates on the road status – as of 4 pm, says Betsy, it’s open (we just drove through, too, to confirm) and the Red Cross is there to help.

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Update: Fire crews back at twice-burned house in 10000 block of 39th SW

May 7, 2014 11:40 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

11:40 AM: A sizable Seattle Fire response has headed back to the 10000 block of 39th SW, scene of two fires at one house in a little more than a week. (update) First crew on scene says “no fire, just smoke” – so they’re putting water on it.

11:52 AM: Our crew on scene says the smoke is mostly coming from the back of the house (added, photo showing new fencing in back):

No flames seen so far, as noted previously.

12:09 PM: For reference – the first fire was on April 29th; second one, early Monday morning. The cause of the first one has yet to be determined; one of the home’s two residents, both said to be in their 70s, was still in the hospital at last report.

4:42 PM: As AG notes in comments, SFD announced this afternoon that overheated wiring caused the original fire on April 29th and that “residual embers” were to blame for the flareups today and two days ago.

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Video: Second fire in one week at Arbor Heights house

May 5, 2014 5:22 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

5:22 AM: Fire crews are back at the house in the 10000 block of 39th SW in Arbor Heights (map) that caught fire last Tuesday.

5:34 AM: The fire is reported to be under control, per scanner traffic. Just added video from neighbor John (who also called to tip us about the fire – thank you). The cause of last week’s fire had yet to be determined, as of our most recent check with SFD last Friday.

5:53 AM: Added that photo from our crew on scene. SFD says no injuries, since house was vacant.

6:03 AM: Metro says the northbound Route 21-EX is rerouting off SW 100th because of this, between 37th SW and 40th SW – use stops “east of 37th or west of 40th,” per text. Meantime, SFD spokesperson Lt. Sue Stangl has just provided an on-scene media briefing. She confirms that they still hadn’t finished investigating last week’s fire – one of the home’s two residents is still in the hospital. A crew will stay on scene here through the day on “fire watch” (as had been done last week).

6:44 AM: The bus reroute is over. Most fire vehicles have been dismissed from the scene. (Added: Our video of Lt. Stangl’s briefing, in which she discusses the possibility it “rekindled.”)

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Arbor Heights fire followup: Cause ‘undetermined,’ for now

April 30, 2014 11:40 am

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| Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Photos taken this morning by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
New information about last night’s house fire in the 10000 block of 39th SW in Arbor Heights (WSB as-it-happened coverage here): Its cause is currently listed as “undetermined,” but Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB that could change: They haven’t been able to speak yet with the two residents, both in their 70s, who remain hospitalized, and it’s still not safe for investigators to go in and look for evidence of how it started.

You can see why, looking at our photos from a trip back to the scene this morning, with smoke still rising from the house:

As we reported last night, the house is considered to be a total loss; this morning, SFD estimates the damage at $350,000 for the house, $100,000 for the contents.

The fire was first reported around 7:40 pm; SFD says it was under control about half an hour after its crews started arriving.

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Video: House destroyed by fire in Arbor Heights; 2 people hurt

April 29, 2014 7:49 pm

| 53 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WED. AM UPDATE: Fire guts Arbor Heights home, 2 residents hurt, cause not yet known, scroll to see new photo)

(Photo courtesy Tim Eannarino)
FIRST REPORT, 7:49 PM: Fire crews have rushed to the 10000 block of 39th SW for a house-fire call. More as we get it.

(Photo by Tony Bradley)
7:54 PM: The callout keeps getting bigger. Smoke visible for a ways around.

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand, substituted for earlier cameraphone pic)
Scanner traffic says the fire started in the basement and that there is a vehicle on fire at the site.

(Photo courtesy Christi Stapleton)
7:58 PM: Our crew just arrived on scene. Paramedics are treating one person. Black smoke continues pouring from the home. Flames are visible too.

(Added: WSB video, including the moment when fire broke through the roof)
It’s being described on the scanner as a “defensive” firefight.

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
8:11 PM: The fire continues to intensify. Neighbors are tweeting – thanks to Colby for this photo:

@westseattleblog @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/iZ9b7ACgkA

— Colby Blanton (@colby_blanton) April 30, 2014

8:20 PM: Two neighboring homes are at risk, according to SFD via Twitter, also confirming that two people are being treated by medics at the scene.

(Photo by Kevin McClintic)
The fire is “tapped,” our crew at the scene reports, which is one milestone toward getting it under control. The SFD public-info officer is there so we and other media will be able to get comprehensive info in addition to what we’re seeing and hearing firsthand.

(Photo courtesy Christi Stapleton)
8:29 PM UPDATE: We just talked with SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore, who says water pressure was NOT a problem, but Seattle Public Utilities did increase the pressure to help with the firefight (we heard that mentioned on the scanner, too). [Added – editor’s note: Those questions stem from a problem with hydrants in Arbor Heights that hampered the fight against a big house fire in 2011. There have since been major upgrades.) He says the two people are still being treated. No idea yet how this started. Moore also says two neighboring homes were evacuated because of danger the fire might spread, and everybody got out OK.

(This photo and next one by Tony Bradley)
8:47 PM: Continuing to add photos – thanks to everyone who has shared theirs – and will be adding ours too as the crew processes them back at base, including video of Moore’s briefing.

9 PM: Sounds like firefighters will be able to go inside. (added) Neighbor Christi says crews are trying to make sure it’s safe for neighbors to go back into their undamaged homes.

9:23 PM: Added – video of Moore’s briefing, including more details on the two people who were inside the house and were being treated for burns/smoke inhalation. We also added, higher up in the story, video showing the flames erupting through the roof following the dark smoke that could at one point be seen from some distance away.

9:50 PM: Earlier we had mentioned a vehicle – above, a photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli. We’re going back over to check on where things stand now. SFD’s Moore tweeted a few minutes ago that the man and woman who were hurt are in their 70s; both suffered smoke inhalation; both were taken to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition; the man also suffered burns. The house was ruled a total loss; the fire’s cause is still under investigation.

10:36 PM: Firefighters are still on scene; light smoke is still rising from the house. They tell us it’s not safe for the investigator to go in yet, so what caused the fire likely won’t be known any sooner than tomorrow. Since both residents of the house were taken to the hospital, there’s no Red Cross or other relief agency on scene.

1:10 AM: Another photo from neighbor Christi – Engine 30, on fire watch. With major fires like this, there’s usually an engine on scene (they rotate) for many hours afterward, just in case of a flareup.

10:12 AM WEDNESDAY: Still no word of the cause but firefighters remain at the scene; the house is still smoldering, and they have been continuing to work to ventilate it:

When there is word of the cause, we’ll publish a new story.

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Fire call in High Point was just a kitchen problem

April 26, 2014 5:01 pm

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| High Point | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Just mentioning in case you heard/saw the big dispatch to 6300 block of High Point Drive about 15 minutes ago – crews have given it the “food on the stove” label so far; our crew has verified at the scene. Units are being dismissed.

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Update: Woman found dead in burning apartment in 7500 block of 24th SW; police join investigation

April 15, 2014 4:34 am

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(SCROLL DOWN for updates, including police joining investigation)

(Photos, video by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
FIRST REPORT, 4:34 AM: Big Seattle Fire response for an apartment fire in the 7500 block of 24th SW (map), just south of the Southwest Precinct/Home Depot area.

4:40 AM UPDATE: At least one person is reported to be hurt, and crews are calling for more medics.

4:47 AM UPDATE: It’s not a big fire – but especially for a multifamily building, it’s SOP to send a sizable response just in case. Per scanner, it’s tapped/under control. Our crew should be on scene shortly.

5:02 AM UPDATE: Our crew says the fire was in a top-floor apartment. Working to find out more about the person found, injured, in that apartment. (added) SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore will be briefing media at the scene shortly.

5:25 AM UPDATE: There’s a reason we hadn’t heard a condition for the person described as a “victim” – Moore says that person found in the burning apartment was dead. That’s the only apartment damaged by fire, but others were affected by smoke, and the Red Cross has been called in to help one person.

5:48 AM UPDATE: Moore describes the person found dead in the burning bedroom as an adult woman. As you’ll hear in the video of Moore’s briefing (above), SFD’s investigator is working to find out how and exactly where the fire started. The apartment had a sprinkler, Moore said, but it was in the hallway, not the bedroom. It will be up to the Medical Examiner to determine how the woman died – whether from the fire, or something else.

8:55 AM UPDATE: Police are now at the scene – including CSI investigators – and yellow crime-scene tape is up.

Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Renée Witt says SFD investigators asked SPD to check out the scene “out of an abundance of caution” just to make sure they weren’t missing anything.

So far, she says she doesn’t know what they have or have not found, but there has not yet been any ruling whether this was or wasn’t a homicide, and the cause of death has not yet been determined by the Medical Examiner.

4:33 PM UPDATE: We’ve been checking, but still no updated information from investigators in either department.

7:15 PM UPDATE: We’ve talked to SW Precinct Ops. Lt. Ron Smith at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council. He says ATF went to the scene today as well but that there is still no official finding about whether this was a crime or not, but it is certainly “suspicious.”

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Fire response in 3000 block Harbor SW = barbecue

April 13, 2014 4:34 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

If you’re hearing the sirens and/or seeing the Seattle Fire units – false alarm; it’s just a barbecue that apparently generated enough smoke to worry somebody. The fire response has just been called off.

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Update: House fire in 5600 block 49th SW, 1 hurt; ‘smoking materials’ blamed

April 11, 2014 11:57 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
11:57 PM: A deck fire in the 5600 block of 49th SW has apparently spread into the attic. We are en route.

12:17 AM: Our crew is on scene. The fire is at a two-story home; the deck is on the second floor.

A neighbor tells us flames were visible at one point. The five people who were at home all got out of the house, thanks to a neighbor who saw the smoke and banged on the door to alert everyone; a child is being checked out for what’s described as a small burn, and that’s the only injury we’ve heard of.

12:33 AM: The fire’s out; cause is under investigation, and some units are being dismissed from the scene.

ADDED 8:45 AM: Per SFD on Twitter, “improperly discarded smoking materials” caused the fire, with damage estimated around $35,000.

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Followup: West Seattle arson suspect out of jail, no charges so far

March 29, 2014 12:43 am

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Tuesday night photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Followup to the Brace Point house fire Tuesday night that was determined to be a case of arson: Friday afternoon was the deadline for the 54-year-old woman arrested hours after the fire to be either charged or released from jail. The jail register shows she was released Friday evening, and court dockets show no charges filed so far. She had appeared for a bail hearing Thursday afternoon, at which time bail was set at $100,000, but after Friday afternoon came and went without charges being filed, she was let out on conditional release. The probable-cause document from Thursday says her car was found parked just south of the house the night of the fire, with personal belongings and her dogs inside, as well as notes saying she was sorry and that she was leaving, offering advice to the home’s other resident about contacting someone regarding the insurance. The court documents said she was arrested after returning to the house about four hours after the fire; a five-gallon gas can missing from the home’s crawl space was found near where the fire started. We will be following up with prosecutors on Monday about the case’s future.

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Update: House fire on 51st SW in Brace Point ruled arson; 1 arrested

March 25, 2014 9:36 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(1st photo from scene, by Patrick Sand for WSB)
9:36 PM: Seattle Fire is responding to a reported house fire in the 10000 block of 51st SW (map). It’s on a dead-end street in Brace Point. More to come.

(This photo & next 2, by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
9:45 PM UPDATE: Via scanner, firefighters report they have the fire “knocked down.” Our crew has just arrived and sees some flames from a corner of the roof on the 3-story house. Strong smell of smoke even here in upper Fauntleroy more than a mile north.

10:12 PM UPDATE: Nobody was home when this started, our crew at the scene has been told. Flames are out now. (Added: Video of firefighters on the roof – note the smoke and also the water rushing down the driveway:)

SFD’s investigator is there to try to figure out how it started.

11:53 PM UPDATE: No cause announced yet; the investigation is still under way, per SFD.

WEDNESDAY 10:06 AM: Police have announced they believe this was arson – finding a gas can inside the house – and a resident of the home has been arrested. Details on SPD Blotter.

10:23 AM UPDATE: We’ve checked the background of the 54-year-old woman who is in jail for investigation of arson; she does not appear to have a criminal record.

12:32 PM UPDATE: Since she wasn’t booked until this morning, her bail hearing won’t be until tomorrow, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE: Her bail was set today at $100,000, according to the jail register. We won’t have other details from prosecutors until Friday.

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Update: Fire call in Fauntleroy blamed on electrical problem

March 19, 2014 9:51 pm

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| Fauntleroy | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

9:51 PM: Seattle Fire has a fire response in the 4500 block of SW Director Place (map). The building is described in county records as a four-plex.

9:59 PM: Electrical problem, crews on the scene tell us. All over now.

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Update: Big response, small fire in North Delridge – but apparently set

March 11, 2014 3:41 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

3:41 AM: If you’ve been awakened by a big fire response in North Delridge – it was a dispatch for a possible house fire in the 4700 block of 26th SW (map). However, radio communication indicates it was a “porch fire,” and that police put it out before firefighters even got there. Most SFD units are being canceled.

4:14 AM UPDATE: But now there’s more to the story: This is a suspected case of arson, and at least one person is in custody. (More in comments.)

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Update: House-fire call in 8000 block 45th SW = furnace trouble

March 4, 2014 7:05 am

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

7:05 AM: Busy morning for firefighters. They’re now off to a second house-fire call – this time in the 8000 block of 45th SW (map), just east of central Lincoln Park. Not major, apparently – units still on the way are being told they can slow down. More to come.

7:09 AM: Per scanner, firefighters on scene say it’s just a furnace problem. We’re still en route to check. (Update – Our crew on scene has confirmed it.)

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Update: Space heater blamed for early-morning fire on 20th SW

March 4, 2014 6:39 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Fire engine on watch in 8400 block of 20th SW; line goes to scene along the alley, out of view)
6:39 AM: Firefighters have been keeping “fire watch” this morning after putting out a fire in in the 8400 block of 20th SW (map). That means they’re guarding the scene to make sure the fire doesn’t re-ignite. No injuries, the crew on scene told us; we’ll add information about the damage and cause when that’s available later this morning.

7:44 AM: Went back for that photo after talking with the battalion chief at another fire-response scene. We’ve learned no one was home at the time of this fire, which did most of its damage in the rear of the house, facing an alley.

9:58 AM: SFD has published an update on the fire, saying a space heater was to blame; damage totals $125,000. SFD’s update includes information about home-heating safety.

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Update: Electrical problem sparks fire call at Emeritus on 35th

March 1, 2014 10:58 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
10:58 AM: Big fire callout to 4611 35th SW, which is the Emeritus Senior Living facility. Arriving units did not find any obvious sign of fire – sounds like they might have found a bit of smoke in a sixth-floor laundry room – possibly an electrical problem. We’re en route to check.

11:05 AM UPDATE: Most of the fire units have been dismissed (we’re heading north on 35th and have already passed Engines 11 and 37 heading back to their stations). We’re now arriving in the area just north of Alaska on 35th and two units are still visible outside the building. No traffic effects.

12:07 PM: Tim Clemans was at the open house at Station 32 nearby when they got the call for this – here’s what Tim recorded via Google Glass:

Since it initially went out as a “fire in building” call, that meant a huge response just in case – not just from the nearest station (this one) but from others in West Seattle as well as specialized equipment from across the bridge. Meantime, SFD wrapped up after clearing the smoke generated by the laundry-room problem

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Update: ‘Small fire’ in 9000 block 16th SW, no injuries

February 28, 2014 5:47 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo courtesy Michael Riedel)
5:47 PM: Seattle Fire is on a “fire in single/family residence” call in the 9000 block of 16th SW. More to come.

6:18 PM UPDATE: Thanks to Mike for updates in comments while we were en route. 16th is blocked by the Salvation Army building. No reports of injuries; we are told it was a very small fire in a boarded-up structure on the alley. Some of the SFD units are now leaving.

6:39 PM UPDATE: Mike reports 16th SW reopened (shortly after we left).

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Update: House-fire call in 2700 block SW Kenyon

February 19, 2014 12:52 pm

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

12:52 PM: If you’ve seen/heard the big fire response, it’s for a house in the 2700 block of SW Kenyon (map), but most of the units have just been canceled. We’re checking it out.

12:58 PM UPDATE: Described on the scanner as a mattress fire.

1:16 PM UPDATE: Added photo. Fire’s out, no major damage, no injuries reported.

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Why Seattle Fire crews are at Nucor Steel

February 13, 2014 9:28 am

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Just in case you’re wondering – the Seattle Fire response at the Nucor Steel plant right now was in response to a report of an alarm about a possible fire in “a room.” Per radio communications, crews arriving on the scene did not find a visible fire, but sprinklers were going off, and they are trying to find out what set off the alarm. (Update a few minutes later – crews on scene have focused in on an “overheated control panel.”)

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Update: Garage fire at house in 1300 block Alki SW

February 12, 2014 8:53 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Added: Reader video shared via e-mail – it rotates to correct angle quickly)
8:53 AM: Fire crews are rushing to the 1300 block of Alki Avenue SW (map), where a garage fire is reported. First crews on scene say it’s the garage for a home, and they’re seeing smoke. Note that the initial response is likely blocking traffic both ways – they’re calling for police to help with that – so you’ll want to avoid that stretch of the beachfront boulevard.

9 AM: Our crew is en route; via scanner, crews at the scene say the fire’s under control and they’re checking to be certain it didn’t spread.

9:10 AM: The fire is “tapped” – which basically means out. Our crew has arrived and is told nobody was home when it happened; we’ve confirmed, no injuries. Damage and cause are still being assessed. The 1300 block of Alki is still closed to traffic because of fire units.