Update: KIRO is reporting: “Seattle fire chief confirms there was a gas leak involved in the explosion, fire.”
On Sunday afternoon dozens of fire and police units were searching for a natural gas leak nearby, shutting down traffic for several city blocks. The Seattle Times is updating here.
Photo Tweeted by KIRO TV’s Chopper 7 of fire near Interstate 5.
Two early morning fires are being fought just north of Maple Leaf.
One was easily visible to rush hour traffic on Interstate 5. From our news partners The Seattle Times:
The fire is located in the 12300 block of Fifth Avenue Northeast. Two people, a man and a woman both in their 50s, were taken to Harborview Medical Center. One in critical condition and one in serious condition, said Kyle Moore, the Seattle Fire Department spokesman.
TV station helicopter videos show a fully involved structure fire and neighbors reported hearing an explosion more than a mile away.
A second, smaller fire was reported at 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 107th Street (below).
Ditto on a carbon monoxide alarm if you have natural gas or propane in your house. That surely would’ve saved this house and the injuries.
Not a bad reminder to check your fire extinguishers in your house or get one if you don’t have one and go over your escape plan. I know a little household fire extinguisher won’t help fight a natural gas explosion in your home, but none the less it’s a good thing to have in case of other fire issues. After seeing the fire on the news this morning I checked the date on my fire extinguisher and think I will change out the batteries in all my smoke alarms.
Good thing the fire was contained and did not spread to other houses.