Just after 3:30 p.m., Saturday August 9, the Mercer Island Fire Department responded to a unconfirmed residential structure fire in the 7800 block of S.E. 22nd Street. According to Battalion Chief Les Kenworthy, the incident was quickly upgraded to a full structural fire response to include Bellevue, and Kirkland fire units. The two-story home was unoccupied when a fire broke out on the deck of the second story. A neighbor near the residence noticed the smoke and flames and entered the back yard and began to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.
The first arriving fire companies initially attacked the fire from the exterior of the residence and then quickly moved into the interior to check for fire extension. This resulted in a fast knockdown of the fire that was extending to the lower floor of the home. The fire was contained to the exterior deck and one interior bedroom below where the fire originated.
A total of 6 fire apparatus were used at this incident and was staffed with 16 firefighters. This included 7 firefighters on duty at Mercer Island, and 9 firefighters from Bellevue. Kirkland units were canceled prior to their arrival.
The cause and origin of this fire was spontaneous combustion from flammable liquids and materials being used to paint the deck. Preliminary damage estimates to the building and contents are $30,000. No injuries were reported.