A young adult died, and multiple residents were displaced after a fire erupted at a condominium complex in Renton, Washington, Monday morning. Firefighters responded to the scene at 1500 Union Ave NE around 10:30 a.m., finding several units already engulfed in flames.
According to Eric Autry, a spokesperson for the Renton Regional Fire Authority, crews arrived within four minutes of the initial call. “There are a lot of different factors in how fast the fire grew, but in this case, it was on multiple floors when they arrived,” Autry said. He added that residents reported hearing neighbors knocking on doors to alert others about the blaze.
The identity of the young adult victim has not been released. Investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical issue, though the specific source remains undetermined.
Kevin Seven, a resident who was forced to evacuate, described a sudden influx of smoke into his unit. “Suddenly, my living room was filled with black ash,” Seven said. “They literally crashed through and told us we needed to evacuate immediately.”
The building, approximately 50 years old, sustained significant damage. Seven expressed his grief, stating, “Things can be replaced, but lives can’t. I just pray that this doesn’t happen again.”
The Renton Regional Fire Authority is continuing to investigate the incident. No further details regarding the extent of the damage or the number of displaced residents were immediately available.
