3-Alarm fire at construction site extends to two adjacent homes near Genesee Park

Seattle - At 4:42 a.m., the Seattle Fire Department's Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting smoke and flames coming from a home under construction in the 4000 block of 43rd Ave. S. Near Genesee Park in the Mount Baker neighborhood. Ladder 12 was the first unit on scene and reported the fire caused the building under construction to collapse, with attached power lines coming down. Then extended to the two adjacent homes north and south of the construction site. As a result, they upgraded the incident to a 2-alarm fire. Minutes later, Battalion 5 took command and upgraded the incident to a 3-alarm fire where 13 engines, seven ladder trucks along with command and support units responded. Totaling over a hundred Seattle Fire personnel.

Firefighters worked quickly to put water on the fire and evacuate the impacted homes. Crews searched both homes and confirmed no one was left inside. At 5:38 a.m., the roof of the south home collapsed, forcing firefighters to evacuate the building and transition to a defensive strategy by putting water on the fire at a safe distance. The fire was declared under control by 6:07 a.m.

Residents of both impacted homes were displaced, but were able to seek shelter with friends and family. A few units will remain on scene to fully extinguish the fire, then monitor for flare ups throughout the morning. The cause of the fire is under investigation.