SEATTLE — Two people died from separate fires that started early Wednesday morning in Seattle.
One person died, another person was critically injured and five others were injured after an apartment fire in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood.
This fire was ruled accidental on Thursday, likely from improperly discarded smoking materials, according to the Seattle Fire Department (SFD).
SFD crews responded to the 100 block of Vine Street at around 2 a.m. When firefighters arrived they saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the building.
The fire originated from the third floor of the apartment building and spread to a fourth-floor unit directly above it.
Multiple people had to be rescued by firefighters. Residents were trying to evacuate the building when crews arrived in what was a "chaotic" situation, according to Seattle Fire Public Information Officer Kaila Lafferty. Heavy smoke in the hallways limited visibility and prevented several residents from exiting on their own. Firefighters stepped in to help people exit the building, taking multiple people out using ladders on the third and fourth floors.
A man died at the scene. A woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. Five others in stable condition were also transported to area hospitals.
A 65-year-old man was taken into custody for questioning by homicide detectives. He was later released.
In Beacon Hill, firefighters were called to the 4500 block of 12th Avenue South at around 4:40 a.m. for a fire in the upper floor of a home. One person, a 90-year-old woman, was rescued from the fire, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
Investigators ruled the cause of the fire undetermined, according to Seattle fire.
A home in Ballard also caught on fire early Wednesday morning on the 7000 block of 12th Avenue Northwest. Crews were able to extinguish the fire and did not find anyone inside.
The cause of the fire was ruled accidental, likely from improperly discarded smoking materials, according to Seattle fire.
That fire was the third major fire overnight in Seattle, according to SFD.