5 killed, including children, in Seattle townhouse fire, authorities say

By AP
Saturday, June 12, 2010

Authorities: 5 killed in Seattle townhouse fire

SEATTLE — A blaze tore through a Seattle townhouse Saturday and killed five people, including a number of children, fire officials said.

The fire was reported just after 10 a.m. in what authorities described as a two-story townhouse in the city’s Fremont neighborhood north of downtown.

The first engine to respond had an equipment problem that prevented it from spraying water on the fire, but the second unit to arrive was able to fight the fire, which was put out within about 40 minutes of when it was reported, Fitzpatrick said.

The cause was not immediately known.

Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick could not immediately confirm the victims’ ages, but told The Associated Press that some were children.

Chaplains joined Seattle fire and police investigators on scene, and two women were so distraught they were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Fitzpatrick said.

Seattle fire and police officials were both investigating because of the fatalities, she said.

Fremont is a trendy neighborhood on the Lake Washington Ship Canal known for its giant Lenin statue and annual summer solstice parade.

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