A fire investigators believe started with an electrical failure in a home office destroyed an Eastgate house Friday.

Shortly after 11 a.m., a neighbor reported popping noises and smoke coming from a house on the 4000 block of 140th Avenue Southeast. Bellevue firefighters arrived in five minutes to find heavy black smoke and flames coming from the north side of the single-family home.

The first crews to enter the home reported heavy smoke at knee level with heavy heat throughout. They located and quickly extinguished the fire, confining it to a small office.

The homeowner and his son had left the single-story house around 10:30 a.m. after watching the lightning storm from the front yard. 

Bellevue fire investigators believe an electrical failure in the office to be the cause and origin of the fire. The home did have smoke detectors, it is unknown if the detectors were working at the time of the fire.

The value of the structure and its contents is estimated at $250,000. The home is a total loss, displacing three residents. The owner is insured. There were no injuries.

 REPOST (Courtesy of City of Bellevue Fire Department)