House fire leaves family homeless

Early on the morning of Friday, Aug. 5 a fire burned a home in the 3700 block of 86th Ave. S.E. The homeowner was altered to the fire by a passerby who noticed fire coming from the back side of the house, shortly after 6:30 a.m. The owner was able to evacuate his family.

August 5, 2011 2:17 pm
Firefighters from Bellevue and Mercer Island responded to a fire early this morning at a home in the 3600 block of 86th Avenue S.E. on Mercer Island. Media reports said that the smoke could be seen from Bellevue. Everyone in the home got out safely.
Firefighters from Bellevue and Mercer Island responded to a fire early this morning at a home in the 3600 block of 86th Avenue S.E. on Mercer Island. Media reports said that the smoke could be seen from Bellevue. Everyone in the home got out safely.

Early on the morning of Friday, Aug. 5 a fire burned a home in the 3700 block of 86th Ave. S.E.

The homeowner was alerted to the fire by a passerby who noticed fire coming from the back side of the house, shortly after 6:30 a.m. The owner was able to evacuate his family.

The fire began on the back deck of the home and quickly spread through up the wall, breaking a kitchen widow and spreading through the house and attic. Significant smoke and flame damage was found throughout the home, with the complete loss of interior contents, according to the Mercer Island Fire Department. The MIFD, along with units from Bellevue and Eastside Fire, had the blaze extinguished just after 7 a.m.

After the fire was out it was discovered a family pet died during the fire.

A total of 24 firefighters and eight apparatus were used to fight the fire. Seven of the personnel came from Mercer Island.

Preliminary damage is estimated to be $350,000 for the building and $150,000 for the interior.

The blaze was caused by an ember from a Chiminea, an outdoor fire place, which caught the deck on fire which then spread to the home.