LFP residential fire caused by telephone answering machine

Residential fire in LFP.  Photo courtesy Northshore Fire.

Photo courtesy Northshore Fire.

The Northshore Fire Department together with units from Shoreline and Bothell responded to a residential structure fire in the 5400 block of NE 200th Place in Lake Forest Park. The first units were dispatched at 12:58 pm and arrived to find heavy fire on the exterior of the structure. The fire was upgraded to a second alarm. Wind was blowing fire to an adjacent house. Two vehicles were also threatened. Firefighters protected the exposures, while others performed an exterior attack on the house fire. The fire was under control in approximately eleven minutes. Crews remained on scene until 4 pm.

Photo courtesy Northshore Fire.

The owner was at home when the fire started and had evacuated safely prior to arrival of the fire department. The King County Fire Investigation Unit responded to the call and together with Fire Marshal Jeff LaFlam determined the cause to be accidental. The fire started in a basement office/storage room and was caused by a telephone answering machine. There was one minor firefighter injury. Damage was estimated at $400,000.