At 5:52 p.m. on Aug. 9, the Mercer Island Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire at the 4100 block of 96th Ave. SE.

Firefighters initiated an aggressive attack from the exterior, knocking down most of the flames within minutes of arrival, according to a statement from the fire department. Crews then went inside to check for fire extension.

The house to the south also started to catch fire, but crews quickly extinguished that fire as well. Neither home was occupied at the time. The residential structure sustained moderate damage caused by fire, heat, water and smoke. The fire was mostly extinguished by 6:03 p.m.

A total of eight fire apparatus with 21 firefighters were used to control this incident. This was a joint effort between Mercer Island and Bellevue Fire Departments.