April 25--CENTRAL KITSAP -- An overheated laptop caused a fire that heavily damaged a home on Twilight Place NW Thursday evening.
Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue crews arrived around 7 p.m. to find flames coming from the front bedroom window of the one-story home and extending into the attic. Heavy smoke filled the home, according to Battalion Chief Mike Tague.
Firefighters went inside to aggressively fight the fire and put it out. They looked twice for occupants after reports that somebody might be inside. It was determined that nobody was home at the time and occupants were ultimately accounted for.
The cause was found to be a laptop that overheated while charging on a bed. The fire department cautioned that all heat-producing devices be operated and stored on non-combustible surfaces. Portable electronic devices need a hard surface to allow their internal cooling fans to work.
Sixty percent of the home was destroyed, with damages estimated at $138,500.
Crews from Puget Sound Federal and Poulsbo Fire also responded.
Copyright 2014 - Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, Wash.
