Update 2 for 10:30 pm, May 1
Seattle Fire investigators have determined the fire that ravaged a 20th Ave S.W. home on May 1 was accidental, caused by “improperly disposed of smoking materials.”

Damages are estimated at $150,000 to the structure and $100,000 to contents and The American Red Cross is supporting the victims: an 84-year-old woman who escaped unharmed and a 59-year-old man who suffered minor injuries trying to put the fire out, according to SFD.

CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

Kyle Moore with Seattle Fire provided a description of the firefighters’ arrival and approach to battling the flames as they rushed from the basement up and through the home:

Engine Company 11 arrived to find flames shooting from the front living room window, the basement window and the kitchen window. Heavy black smoke filled the home. Both occupants escaped the single-story house by the time firefighters arrived on scene.

A woman in her 80’s and a man in his 50’s were inside the home when the fire started. The man suffered minor burns to his hands and minor smoke inhalation while trying to put out the fire. AMR transported the patient to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition. Medics checked out the female but determined she did not need medical treatment.

Firefighters battled heavy flames and smoke while working to extinguish the fire. After nearly half an hour of battling the heavy smoke and flames, firefighters took a defensive position. All firefighters were ordered out of the home and off the roof for their own safety while crews fought the fire from outside the burning structure.

Firefighters had a difficult time getting to the seat of the fire due to a basement door being blocked and a large amount of combustible materials piled up inside the bottom floor of the home. It took crews nearly an hour to get the stubborn fire under control.

Moore said a “round the clock” watch is posted at the house throughout the night to ensure hotspots do not flare up

No firefighters were injured, Moore said.

Update for 7:45 pm, May 1
Kyle Moore with Seattle Fire provided a few updates on today's fire:

Regarding witness reports that there was inadequate water pressure at nearby hydrants, Moore said, "No water issue whatsoever. Completely false. A hydrant was in front of the house and fully functioning."

He said fire investigators are on scene investigating the cause.

An 84-year old woman and 59-year-old male escaped from the home. The male "suffered minor burns to his hands and minor smoke inhalation," Moore said. He was transported by ambulance to Harborview for treatment.

------------------------

Original post
Around 5:20 p.m. on May 1 a single family home on the 8400 block of 20th Ave S.W. caught fire. By 5:53 p.m. firefighters had decided the home could not be saved and went on the defensive, focusing on containing the blaze to the property.

Seattle Fire officials said occupants were able to escape the home, although there are conflicting reports from central command and the incident commander on scene as to whether a man living at the home suffered hand burns. (Update: a 59-year-old man was transported to Harborview for minor hand injuries and smoke inhalation)

Please click the image above for more photos from the scene.

Witnesses at the scene said firefighters were unable to get adequate water flow out of nearby hydrants and had to resort to water on board their trucks. We are waiting on official confirmation from SFD on the hydrants. (Update: Kyle Moore with SFD said there were no hydrant pressure issues)

The incident commander said the fire originated in the basement. It quickly spread throughout the home and flames were shooting from the attic area of the roof within 20 minutes of the fire starting. We are waiting on specific details from SFD, but a neighbor said she spoke to a victim and was told an unattended cigarette was to blame. (Update: fire investigators are on scene working to identify the fire's cause)

This story will be updated.