Update: House fire on 17th SW ‘accidental’; two firefighters hurt

(Scroll down for newest information – investigators have figured out how the fire started)

(Video substituted at 12:14 pm for previously published photo)
ORIGINAL 11:12 AM REPORT: On our way to check out the house-fire call (7900 block of 17th SW – map). 11:23 AM UPDATE: We are at the scene, significant fire, front of house charred, smoke still coming out. No word yet if anyone is hurt. 11:34 AM UPDATE: Incident commander tells us everyone got out OK but a few firefighters are being checked out for possible minor injuries. It’s easy to see inside the front of the house from the street, and it appears gutted. It’ll be a while before investigators can say how it started. 12:16 PM NOTE: In comments, Mookie mentioned “decon” for firefighters on scene. Here’s what that consisted of:

We’ll update whenever the information’s available about the fire’s cause. 1:29 PM UPDATE: SFD confirms via Twitter that two firefighters had to be treated for “minor injuries.” 2:51 PM UPDATE: Update from SFD: The fire was accidental, started when someone tried to get a fire going in the fireplace and nearby “combustible materials” caught fire in the process. The house is considered “pretty much a total loss,” according to SFD’s Helen Fitzpatrick, with damage to home and contents estimated at $150,000. She also explains that the two firefighters who were hurt suffered ankle injuries from stepping out the back door into a “short drop” that had no stairs. 12:29 AM SUNDAY: Firefighters went back late Saturday night for a flare-up. It appeared to be out by the time we got there, with most of the dispatched trucks having been sent back.

Mookie October 16, 2010 (11:27 am)

Another medic unit’s been requested for firefighter with ankle injury, or injuries; also it sounded like they were setting up a “decon” station next to Engine 37?

The residence was on fire and there was a person, possibly injured, on the back porch when SFD arrived.

Heard a request for Seattle City Light to come to the scene, as well as a fire marshall.

WSB October 16, 2010 (11:58 am)

The “decon station” consisted of firefighters getting hosed off, which isn’t unusual at fire scenes; almost directly across from the house. We have a pic of that, back at HQ now to add visuals since the investigation will take a whie – TR

coffee October 16, 2010 (11:30 am)

Fire Marshall screamed down Delridge about 5 minutes ago.

ltfd October 16, 2010 (8:11 pm)

“Fire Marshall screamed down Delridge about 5 minutes ago”.
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‘Marshal 5’ is the call sign for the on-duty Fire Investigator. They don’t respond to an incident scene with lights & siren (Code Red); they respond to the scene in a non-emergency mode, after they are requested by the incident commander- usually for incidents with $20,000 or more damage, for fires with serious injuries/death, for fires of undetermined origin, or for arson (in which case SPD also assists with the investigation).

michele October 16, 2010 (9:16 pm)

Does anyone know ow the occupent of the house,Wally, is?He has limited abilities and does he need anything? I am a neighbor of his.

CJP October 16, 2010 (11:08 pm)

this house is back on fire! trucks arriving…

S October 16, 2010 (11:25 pm)

Its 11:23pm Saturday night… and the fire trucks just went screamin down the street again. Seattle Fire Real-Time 911 says they are back at this same house with as big of a response as they had this morning.

buttercup October 17, 2010 (7:51 am)

SOME OF THE FIREFIGHTERS SPENT THE NIGHT ON THEIR TRUCK KEEPING AN EYE ON THE HOUSE FOR MORE FLAREUPS. MUCH APPRECITED!

WSB October 17, 2010 (8:08 am)

Thanks for the update. We noted that in the short item we wrote about the flareup – after we came back from taking a look, we heard scanner traffic with Engine 11 assigned on “fire watch.”

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