Family Cat is Saved in Capitol Hill House Fire

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December 2011

Seattle Firefighters reunited a family cat with its owners after a fire that tore through a Capitol Hill home just before the holiday weekend.

At 6:56 a.m., several 911 callers reported seeing flames coming from across the two-story home located in the 400 block of 23rd Avenue East. Engine Company 25 arrived to find heavy smoke and flames shooting 20 feet into the air from the back of the house.

The home's detached garage and the homeowner's car, which was parked in the driveway, were also on fire. Firefighters immediately searched the home and basement but did not find anyone inside. The homeowners, an elderly couple, escaped before firefighters arrived. A neighbor first saw the flames and pounded on the home's door, awakening the homeowners and helping them safely evacuate.

Within minutes of the firefighters arriving, the garage and deck collapsed. It took more than 20 minutes to control the fire. The fire jumped from the garage to the back of the home causing significant damage to the basement and main floor of the house.

City Light turned off power to the home. The Red Cross was called to find shelter for the displaced residents.

Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters found the couple's cat hiding in the charred debris. Firefighters reunited the cat with the grateful homeowners.

A Seattle Fire Investigator determined the fire was intentionally set. This morning, somebody set fire to the couple's unlocked car. Seattle Police Arson and Bomb Squad Detectives were called to the scene to collect forensic evidence.

Damage estimates are still being determined. There were no reports of injuries.



Author:Seattle Fire Department Press Release