Bellevue Fire

Bellevue Firefighters Respond to Thursday House Fire

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

Firefighters were dispatched to a residential structure fire on Thursday, April 23, 2020, just before noon today.

Light smoke billowed  from the eaves of the home as witnessed by many from the street above.  The home is located down a steep driveway.

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The fire broke out at a home located in the 2600 block 169 Ave Southeast in Bellevue, Washington State.

Engine 102 was first due on-scene  and began immediately fighting fire.

Primary and secondary searches were conducted but no fire vicitms were found.

Firefighters checked the attic for any extensions.

No injuries to firefighters or to civilians were reported.

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A preliminary cause of the fire was not immediately known at the time of this post.

Photo Images Credit | Bellevue Fire Department

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog – Updated 4/23/2020 1140 hours PT

Wrong Turn Driver Smashes Into Building

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

A medium sized passenger vehicle took a wrong turn and ended up smashing in to the interior of a downtown business, Omega Photo, located in the 200 block of 105th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, Washington.  This occurred on Thursday, February 20, 2020.

Photo Credits | Bellevue Fire Department

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The car can be seen visibly crashing into the front plate window, startling busy shoppers inside the store.  People are being credited for their high situational awareness as this could have been a very serious injury or as a fatality to others inside.

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In all seriousness,  both the Bellevue Fire and Police Departments quickly responded to the incident around 1120 hours PST.

No injuries to firefighters, Police Officers, employees or shoppers was reported.

It was unknown if the driver suffered a medical emergency or if it was due to inattentiveness.

(c) 2020 NW Fire Blog- 2/22/2020 1740 hours PST

 

Bellevue Firefighters Respond to Clyde Hill House Fire

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

CLYDE HILL, Wash. – Bellevue Firefighters were called to a residential structure fire in the 2000 block on 89th Avenue NE in the Clyde Hill area, a City with 3,000 residents and 1,100 households.

The City is contracted with the City of Bellevue Fire Department for all of its fire related services and emergency medical calls within its boundary.

The fire broke out at the home around 1309 hours PDT and was brought under control around 1319 hours PDT.

One occupant inside the structure was able to self-evacuate without any injuries.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation by the Bellevue Fire Department.

One Citizen reported seeing a black smoke column from as far as away as Mercer Island from her office window , which is across the water from Clyde Hill.

(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog

 

Bellevue Fire Erupts in Apartment Complex

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

BELLEVUE, Wash. – A fire broke out at a Factoria apartment complex on the afternoon of Sunday, April 22, 2018 from an unknown cause.

Photo Credit: Fire Photos (@Incidentphotos) Used with written permission

Firefighters quickly responded to the commercial fire on Sunday afternoon.  Exposures around the three-story complex located in the 12900 block and Newport Way were searched and found to be all clear.  Fire was knocked down and contained rapidly to several units.

A Bellevue Fire Investigator responded to the scene.

There were no reports of civilian or firefighter injuries.

Limited information has been found on this incident today.  We will provide updates as details become available.

(c) 2018 NW Fire Blog

Fire Damages Factoria Structure

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

UPDATE – 0911 hours PST

BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON | A fire broke out at an apartment complex located in the 12800 block of SE 40th in the Factoria area of Bellevue, Washington early Christmas morning.   Access into the fire scene was difficult due to snow and ice.  The fire occurred in between 0400 – 0430 hours PST.

(Written permission has been granted to republish this feed.  Credit:  Snoco_Radio (@Stringing Photog)

A cause is unknown at the time of this post.

Bellevue Fire stated about 5-6 patients were evaluated with 4 being transported to nearby hospital(s).  Many were injured in the fall, when they were jumping out of windows.

Six units were heavily damaged and not inhabitable.

(c) 2017 NW Fire Blog

 

Fire Damages Factoria Structure

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON | A fire broke out at an apartment complex located in the 12800 block of SE 40th in the Factoria area of Bellevue, Washington early Christmas morning.   Some residents jumping out of windows as the fierce fire consumed parts of the structure were reported on this snowy morning in the wee hours on Monday (around 0400-0430 hours PST).

A cause is unknown at the time of this post.

Four patients were transported to area hospitals related to evacuating from the building. No word on their conditions are known at this time.

(c) 2017 NW Fire Blog

 

Bellevue Islamic Center Fire Ruled Arson

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

Bellevue, Washington

An early morning structure fire broke out at 0244 hours on Saturday, January 15th, severely damaging the Islamic Center of Eastside on the 14700 block and Main Street in Bellevue, Washington.

FIRE RESPONSE

Firefighters were quickly dispatched to the Crossroads mosque fire and were met by 40-foot flames shooting up from the rear of the two-story wood frame building, presumably built-in the 1970’s and listed without sprinklers.

Credit: Bellevue Fire Department

Credit: Bellevue Fire Department

Multiple hose lines were laid and firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire and able to save half of the structure.  Additionally, during salvage they saved numerous religious books and electronic equipment.

13 fire apparatus were on scene.

Firefighters also performed primary and secondary searches in the building and finding no occupants. It was found to be a unoccipied building.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.

POLICE RESPONSE

At the fire scene, the BFD called Bellevue Police to respond to the mosque for a possible person-of-interest on the North side of the building.  Police Officers would be dispatched and find the person whom they would arrest for arson and for having a Seattle PD warrant.  He was arrested with seven minutes from time of dispatch to arriving on-scene.

Police say the suspect, (whom we are not naming though BPD has due to suspects have many rights including are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law) acted alone and is not being considered as an act of terrorism. They have ruled this out due to his statements, pattern of behavior and evidence collected at the scene. This suspect has an extensive criminal record.

“This is an attack on the Muslim community and an attack on all our Bellevue residents. We must pray for them and come together as a community.” –  Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett.

bellevue-fire-jan-15-bfd-2

Police are continuing to work with the ATF and FBI in this case.

PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

The Prosecutor’s Office stated they are not treated this as a hate crime as there is not enough evidence to support that cause.  Police are still trying to figure out this suspect’s motive for the fire.

Police Investigators are working with the Redmond Police Department due to another church in the area was hit by fire. They are looking at if this has any connection to the Redmond Fire.

(c) 2017 The #NWFireBlog

 

NEW: Local Firefighters Prep for Combat Challenge in Bellevue Washington

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

Bellevue Washington | An annual event you don’t want to miss is coming to Bellevue, where Firefighters will “compete” on a timed course pulling fire hose and spraying at targets, “rescuing” victims and running up several “flights” of stairs on one of America’s iconic “fire” combat course.

Seattle and other Cities have been host to the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge course which in year’s past has been filmed and great entertainment for you and your family. We will be there too snapping up firefighters in action.

Little ones can also “compete” during a Kid’s Firefighter Challenge.  Those are always fun to watch and photograph as well.

#FireImage Courtesy of Bellevue Firefighters

You will not want to miss this event to be held this Saturday and Sunday on July 11 and 12, 2015 at Bellevue’s Market Place at Factoria [aka Factoria Square Mall] located at 4055 Factoria Square Mall SE in Bellevue, Washington 98006.

Sunbelt Rentals will be bringing their award-winning Wounded Warrior Project lift to this event.

Sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals, Bellevue Fire and Genie company.  This will surely be the most fun you’ve had in a long time.  Firefighters would LOVE if you cheered them on to victory.   They also LOVE visitors to cheer them before, during and after “competing”, as well as just chatting them up.

It’s going to be a very HOT day, so here’s a few recommendations/reminders:

  • If out in the sun, remember to drink LOTS of water. [There are multiple stores in the area: SAFEWAY, Walmart, 7-11 and area restaurants]
  • Pets are welcome but remember, their pads are sensitive and can burn if standing/walking on hot pavement.
  • PLEASE DO NOT leave your Pets in the car.  It will be TOO HOT for them and residents in the area care a lot about pets and if seen in a HOT car will call 9-1-1 or break your windows. SAVE your PET and your vehicle windows.
  • Sunscreen is key to stopping sunburns and avoiding the sun’s rays.

MOST OF ALL, have lots of fun!

We’ll see you there.

[c] 2015 The NW Fire Blog

NEW FIRE APPARATUS: Ladder Trucks to Arrive in Bellevue Washington Soon

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

The Bellevue Fire Department announced on their Facebook page, two new Ladder trucks on order for their Light Force 3 and Light Force 7 companies from Pierce Manufacturing.

There was no estimated date of arrival listed.

We sent a request to see when they expect the Ladder Trucks to arrive and go into service.  In addition, we had asked if their former trucks will be sent to auction or donated/sold to another agency.

Bellevue (WA) Fire Ladder 3 at a small structure fire. [Photo Credit: LR Swenson]

Bellevue (WA) Fire Ladder 3 at a small structure fire in 2011. [Photo Credit: LR Swenson]

Great news for Bellevue Fire!  Congratulations on your rigs that are almost here.

WHAT IS A “LIGHT FORCE”?

Bellevue Fire Chief Pete Lucarelli who was a former City of Los Angeles FD Deputy Chieff throughout the 90’s, brought the “Light Force” concept to Washington State.

It is a combination of a 4-person ladder truck with a 1-person pumper. These apparatus comprise as one crew working together in unison resulting in a dedicated pump for the Ladder truck.

Bellevue Fire states as a result, “The Ladder always has a pump dedicated to it at structure fires, and can be effective in combating other types of fires such as vehicle fires, brush fires, and such.”

[c] 2015 The NW Fire Blog

Commercial Structure Fire | Bellevue Dealership Heavily Damaged

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

Bellevue, Washington

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Firefighters were dispatched around 0250 on Saturday morning after multiple 9-11 callers reporting heavy flames from the commercial building.

First due fire crews arriving on scene reported a fully engulfed building prompting a higher level of response, additional fire apparatus and manpower elevating it to a 3-Alarm incident.  A thermal column could be seen by responding firefighters from all over the City and as far as away as Snohomish County, approximately 30 miles.

Due to the high flames and intensity of the fire load with heavy fuels inside, crews were forced to go defensive on the fire.

Fire Captain Chuck Heitz [MSO5] took the photo of the dealership fully engulfed in flames, described the eerie sound of malfunctioning honking horns from the vehicles inside the showroom.

LOCATION

The Prestige Ford dealership also known as the Auto Nation Ford dealership is located at NE 4/116 Ave NE is located on Bellevue’s “Auto Row”, quickly turned from an upscale looking building to a destroyed structure with parts of its infrastructure collapsed.  Brand new cars inside it’s showroom were completely destroyed.

RESOURCES

  • Engine 1  [Downtown Bellevue]
  • Engine 2  [Eastgate/Bellevue]
  • Engine 4  [Factoria/Bellevue]
  • Engine 5  [NE24 St/Bellevue]
  • Engine 6  [Bridle Trails/Wilburton/Bellevue]
  • Engine 9  [Newcastle/Bellevue Fire]
  • Engine 12 [Redmond Fire]
  • Engine 22 [108 Ave NE/Kirkland Fire]
  • Engine 26 [Totem Lake/Kirkland]
  • Engine 91 [Mercer Island]
  • Light Force 3 [Bellevue Fire]
  • Light Force 7 [Bellevue Fire]
  • Ladder 16 [Redmond Fire]
  • Ladder 27 [Kirkland Fire]
  • Engine  72 [Eastside Fire and Rescue]
  • Medic 1
  • Medic 2
  • Aid 1  [Bellevue Fire]
  • Air Unit 1 [Bellevue Fire]
  • MSO 5  [Bellevue Fire]
  • Battalion 1 [Bellevue Fire]
  • Battalion 21 [Kirkland Fire]
  • Battalion 91 [Mercer Island]

INJURIES

None was reported.

DAMAGES

Reports of dozens of cars along with the dealership’s showroom and building are a total loss.  No loss has been released as of yet.

CAUSE

As of  1100 hours today, the building was still smoldering and crews were still completing additional overhaul on the building.

There has been no determination made by the Fire Investigator but reports of the flames being seen in the north side of the roof have been reported by media sources.

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Trending questions from the public ask now that there has been a fire, what happens to all the customer’s vehicles that were being serviced.  We have yet to find the answers but we will get back to you.

There are jokes making fun of cars with large discounts during a fire sale but the employees and management say this is no laughing matter. Comments made by some whom may work there are worried how they are going to feed and take care of their families in light of the fire.

We are thinking of the employees who have lost their jobs temporarily.  We are hoping the dealership will rebuild and bring back those jobs.

ABOUT THE FIRE BUILDING

The dealership formerly known as Prestige Ford was purchased by Auto Nation Bellevue.  It currently owns the building it resides in but not the land which is owned by Dog Walk LLC.

Tax records reveal their property taxes are current and have remained the same since 2007, with no increases within that time period. The building was built in 1971, and its construction is made out of reinforced construction, says the Tax Assessor’s Office.  It’s quality states it is considered as low construction costs and workmanship, defined by the King County as having a “small simple design”.

To get the gist of the size of this event and the magnitude of the fire upon this building, it is listed as 31,375 square feet on a 192,386 square foot lot.

We were unable to find records stating if the building did or did not have fire sprinklers but in reviewing photos on their website, it appears they did not have – or not at least in the showroom photos.

KUDOS

Firefighters from various Eastside departments came together, working really hard to contain the fire from spreading any further or to nearby exposure buildings.  We want to say with much respect, great job!

[c] 2015 The NW Fire Blog