On Wednesday evening, December 11, 2002, at 5:30 p.m., units from the Bellevue Fire Department responded to multiple reports of a house fire located at 4256 151st Ave SE in Eastgate. A first alarm assignment of three Engine Companies, a Truck Company, an Aid unit, a Medic One unit, a Medical Services Officer, and a Battalion Chief all responded to the incident. Additional resources were requested, which included a Truck Company and an Engine Company from the Bellevue Fire Department. A total of 28 firefighters were utilized on scene to bring the fire under control in approximately 60 minutes. No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported.
Arriving on scene in six minutes, Bellevue Engine Two encountered a large amount fire located on the west side of one-story residence with a daylight basement, that was quickly consuming a carport/deck filled with containers of used motor oil, old tires, tools, and several propane tanks that exploded. With fire spreading from the basement to the attic, firefighters were first forced to attack the intense heat and smoke with multiple hand lines from the exterior. Once the main body of fire was contained, firefighters were then able to enter the house; however, they encountered some difficulty in reaching a few concealed areas of fire due to weakened floors and a significant amount of household items and goods stored on each level of the home, including the attic space. Preliminary damage estimates to the structure and it contents are in excess of $200,000 dollars. The fire is currently under investigation by the King County Fire Marshal
