Fire tears through Queen Anne apartment

A fire erupted at an apartment building in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood that injured a firefighter Friday morning.

Two men in the second-floor apartment on West Olympic Place near 8th Avenue West where the fire started said they awakened to smell smoke, went out into the living room and saw flames.

The men went door to door telling neighbors to get out, and about 12 people safely evacuated.

The fire was put out within 20 minutes, but caused major damage to the unit and the one directly above it.  There may be smoke and water damage to other units.

One firefighter suffered an injury to his knee.

Seattle fire spokesman Kyle Moore said the fire was caused by clothes placed too close to an electric baseboard heater in the southwest corner closest to balcony.

Damage to the building is estimated at $300,000 with damage to contents estimated at $100,000.

No one is being allowed into the building and the Red Cross is assisting the 12 displaced people to find a temporary place to live.