Mercer Island firefighters responded and extinguished a small apartment fire last Friday Dec. 14, in the Town Center after they heard the building’s alarm sound while at Station 91, across the street.

Firefighters self-dispatched after notifying their dispatch center and responded at 8:33 a.m. to the Newell Court apartment building, a 4-story apartment complex, at 3011 78th Ave SE.

The alarm was then dispatched as an Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) and was quickly upgraded to a structure fire, and the MIFD called in assistance from the Bellevue and Eastside Fire Departments.

The fire originated in the kitchen of a second floor apartment unit. The automatic sprinkler system activated containing the fire in the kitchen, then fire fighters extinguished the fire from inside the apartment with a single attack line by approximately 9 a.m. The owner was not at home when the fire started.

The Mercer Island Reporter reported two kittens were rescued from inside.

The fire involved unit and the unit below the fire sustained water damage from the sprinkler system. Two businesses in the building, Fitness Together and Edward Jones Investments, were undamaged in the fire.

Arriving on scene within minutes, Mercer Island Firefighters, with assistance from Bellevue and Eastside Fire Departments were able to extinguish this fire with no fire extension to other units or structures.

A total of 9 fire apparatus were used at this incident and approximately 24 firefighters. This included 8 firefighters on duty at Mercer Island, 12 firefighters from Bellevue, 4 firefighters from Eastside Fire & Rescue.

The cause and of this fire appears to be accidental, however is still being investigated. Preliminary damage estimates to the building are $100,000.

Republished 12/18/12 2055 Hours PST

Courtesy: Mercer Island Patch