July 31—A Seattle Fire Investigator ruled an early morning fatal apartment fire in West Seattle was accidental. The investigator determined the cause was improperly discarded smoking materials left burning inside the apartment.

At 2:13 a.m. the Fire Alarm Center received a 911 call reporting smoke coming from a second floor apartment in a building located in the 9000 block of 45th Avenue SW.  Firefighters arrived to find flames visible in the second floor unit of a 19 unit complex.  A resident reported the occupant was still inside the burning apartment.

Firefighters evacuated the complex and made a forcible entry into the apartment. Once inside they quickly extinguished the flames and found the deceased female occupant.

As standard procedure, the Seattle Police Department’s Arson Bomb Unit was called in to investigate the death. The King County Medical Examiner will determine cause of death.  No other residents or firefighters suffered injuries.

Residents were allowed to reoccupy the complex. The fire investigator estimates $50,000 in damage to the unit and $15,000 in damage to the contents.

REPOST

Source: Seattle Fire Department