By Teri Jones, Northshore Fire DepartmentThe King County Fire Investigator has released a fire cause determination for the January 18 condo fire at the Harbor Village Condos in Kenmore. The cause is determined to be accidental. A person was replacing a microwave oven above the stove. A combustible material was placed on the glass stovetop to protect it during the installation. As the person left the condo unit, one of the stovetop burners was inadvertently turned on, igniting the combustible material on the stovetop. The estimated loss to the condo unit is $220,000.
A fire in one condo unit affects everyone living in the building. The fire can spread leaving several occupants without a home, or worse, it can take lives. The condo building was built in 1982, before building and fire codes required fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems be installed in this type of occupancy, leaving occupants without the added protection of these life-saving systems. Fortunately, no one was injured at the incident.