FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 17, 2006

CONTACT: Melanie Granfors 206-229-6564

Unattended candle fire partially destroys Shoreline home

Fire investigators say an unattended candle is what caused a devastating house fire in Shoreline this afternoon. Shoreline firefighters responded to a fully-involved fire in the

400 block of NE153^rd around 1:15 this afternoon. The residents -- a couple and three teenagers -- were not home at the time of the blaze.

A neighbor who spotted the smoke and flames called 9-1-1 and then attempted to alert anyone inside. He was able to let the family’s dog out of a lower level sliding door.

Fire crews from Shoreline and Northshore arrived to find the south section of the home fully involved in flames.

Investigators say the candle could have burned for hours before igniting nearby materials and causing the blaze.

The Red Cross was called to assist the family in finding temporary housing.