BELLEVUE FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO FATALITY CONDOMINIUM FIRE

During the evening hours of Sunday December 27th, 2009, Bellevue Firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire in a downtown Bellevue condominium complex. The fire reportedly broke out in a 1st floor unit. From the outside, passerbys couldn't even tell the building was on fire, but as firefighters snaked their hoseline down the central corridor, smoke was already beginning to fill the hallway. Entering the apartment unit, firefighters found heavy smoke to the floor. The crew of Engine 1 worked their hoseline into the seat of the fire while Aid 1's crew conducted a search for victims. They found an elderly woman pulseless with severe burn injuries. She was immediately carried from the fire building by firefighters from Aid 1 and Ladder 1. Firefighter/paramedics assigned to Medic 1 determined the victim's extensive burns were fatal. One other victim was transported to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue with minor injuries. Around 40 other occupants were evacuated from the structure and assessed for smoke inhalation. Some were elderly and had to be carried, but fortunately no other serious injuries occurred. One firefighter injured his knee during the incident. The fire was contained to the room of origin. A potential cause had not yet been determined. In all, Engine 1, 5, 6, 7, Ladder 1, 3, Medic 1, Aid 1, 22, Air Unit 1, and Battalion 1 responded to the incident. Despite the tragic loss of the woman who had apparently died in the fire apartment, the situation could have been much worse, with many of the 3 story building's occupants being elderly, and the fire being located on the first floor of the unsprinklered building. Fortunately the fire, and a majority of the smoke were contained to the unit of origin. Investigation by Bellevue Fire Investigators remained underway at the time of this posting.