A concerned neighbor called 911 on July 13 reporting popping noises and smoke coming from a house at the 4000 block of 140th Avenue SE. Bellevue fire fighters arrived in five minutes to find heavy black smoke and flames coming from the north side of the single family home.
The home owner and his son left the single story home around 10:30 a.m. after watching the lighting storm from his front yard. Fire crews arrived at 11:12 a.m. 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.
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.
