Crime & Safety

Playing With Fire: Kenmore Family Escapes Blaze in House Lacking Alarms

Northshore Fire Department officials say the fire broke out after kids were using a pilot light on a gas water heater to light candles. The house is in Kenmore, just north of Kirkland.

Β 

A large family was displaced Tuesday night after a fire broke out at its home just north of Kirkland in Kenmore, and a Northshore Fire Department inspector says the house had no working smoke alarms.

All 13 occupants and several pets were able to get out of the home, in the 16500 block of 74th Avenue NE, and there were no injuries. The home is on the lower slopes on the north side of Finn Hill.

Find out what's happening in Kirklandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Occupants of the home reported to responding units of the Northshore Fire Department that some of the children were outside playing, and a apparently a 4-year-old was trying to light birthday candles from the pilot light of a gas water heater. One of the residents was able to pour water on the fire, but called 911 when he realized it had reached the attic.

Responding crews found smoke coming from the back of the home.

Find out what's happening in Kirklandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Damage was limited to the exterior and attic of the home, but it was severe enough to displace the family. Red Cross personnel arrived on the scene to help the family find other shelter.

The cause of the fire was ruled as accidental.

Wendy Booth, inspector for the Northshore Fire Department, stressed the importance of having working smoke detectors in every home, and in educating children about the danger of matches, lighters and all sources of ignition.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Kirkland