FIRE DESTROYS KIRKLAND AREA HOME
FIRE CREW ESCAPES ROOF COLLAPSE
Video and photos of the fire can be seen in Wednesday’s article: Holmes Point Home Goes Up In Flames
WHAT: Early this afternoon, a fire was called in at a home in unincorporated King County, north of the city of Kirkland, along Lake Washington. One of the homeowners was working with his assistant in an office built below the garage. They heard a crackling noise and the homeowner went up to investigate.
The homeowner saw flames coming from the northwest (water) side of the house. He had his assistant leave and call 9-1-1 while he tried, unsuccessfully, to locate a garden hose. Even as he tried, he knew the fire was already too big to control with a garden hose.
The first crew on scene attacked the fire on the northwest side of the house, where it was most active. By the time the next crew arrived, that side of the house was already charred from floor to ceiling. Meanwhile, the fire spread into the attic area, touching off spots from one end of the house to the other.
As the roof burned, a crew of 3 Northshore Firefighters went inside to try to locate the fires and find a way to reach them. Without warning, one of two dormers on the northwest side of the house, crashed to the floor, bringing beams down on the crew. The 2 x 4’s, which were on fire, knocked the Firefighters to the ground but did not trap them. They got out from under the burning beams, checked on each other and then quickly left the house, sidestepping burning debris on their way.
Fires burned in attic areas for several hours, as Firefighters continued to knock vent holes in the roof and pull down ceiling.
The fire was contained to this home. The rest of the property, as well as the neighbors’, was left intact.
STATUS: The house, which underwent major renovation about a year ago, is currently uninhabitable. Half of the house and the roof are burned out. The other half of the house has suffered considerable damage from water and debris. The only portion of the house left fairly intact, is the office, because of its location beneath the garage.
Structural loss was estimated at $600K.
CAUSE: The King County Fire Marshal’s Office has determined the cause of the fire was improperly discarded smoking material.
WHEN: The fire was first called in at 1:07 p.m. The first Fire Unit arrived at 1:18 p.m. All of Kirkland’s fire crews were involved with other calls at the time.
WHO: In addition to the 9-1-1 call from the homeowner, the fire continued to be reported by neighbors and people from across the lake.
13 units responded, representing Kirkland, Northshore, Woodinville and Bothell Fire Departments. Northshore was the first-in unit and made the first fire attack with hoses, on the house. As the front door was locked, a forced entry was made, to gain access.
No citizens were injured by today’s fire. Two of the Firefighters who were knocked down by the falling roof beams, were seen at Evergreen Hospital for back pain and were released to go home and rest. They are expected to be okay with proper rest.
WHERE: The house fire took place in the 130th block of Holmes Point Dr. N.E.
Kirkland Fire contact: Robin Paster, PIO, 425-587-3659
King County Fire Marshal contact: 206-296-6675
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