A fire destroyed a Newcastle home in the 10900 block of Southeast 66th Street on April 13.
All five tenants in the two-story rental home at the time escaped without injuries thanks, largely, to working smoke detectors that alerted some of the sleeping occupants, according to a Bellevue Fire Department news release.
Bellevue firefighters responded to a 911 call at about 8:15 p.m. When the first crews arrived, the house was engulfed in flames that could be seen from Interstate 405 and Mercer Island. Callers also reported hearing multiple explosions.
Investigators determined the fire started in a barbecue located on a porch on the north side of the house, said Lt. Richard Burke, community liaison officer with the Bellevue Fire Department.
The loss was estimated at $250,000, he added.
Firefighters from Station 4 in Factoria contained the fire, worked to remove personal items from the home and evaluated the condition of the occupants.
Other fire companies from Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Eastside Fire & Rescue assisted, while King County Sheriff’s Office deputies helped with traffic control and security.
The city of Newcastle contracts with the Bellevue Fire Department for its fire services.