SEATTLE --
Fire crews responded to a fierce house fire at a home in Seattle's Madrona neighborhood after neighbors woke up to sounds of explosions.
The fire broke out at the house on 37th Avenue East and Florence Court just before 5 a.m. Friday.
Flames tore through the vacant house, quickly spread throughout the wood structure and engulfed the roof. Firefighters used water and foam to put out the flames and climbed on the roof using chain saws to access hot spots and vent the fire.
Fire officials said they think the fire started in the garage, where a car was parked. A neighbor said she heard explosions.
The house was designed by well-known architect John Rohrer and was about to be put up for sale. The former University of Washington architecture professor also designed the long house at Tillicum Village on Blake Island.
Rohrer died in 2004. Neighbor Raquel Bird said representatives from UW were coming out to look at the house next week.
Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen said the fire was accidental, caused by spontaneous combustion of oil-soaked rags in the garage. Damage was estimated to be $200,000.
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