LYNNWOOD — Flames and smoke were pouring from a Lynnwood apartment complex this afternoon as firefighters struggled to contain a stubborn blaze.
Investigators suspect a french fryer sparked the fire, which has ripped through four floors of the north building at the LynnView Apartments, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. Firefighters have been attacking the fire from outside the building. Dangerous conditions drove them out of the building.
There aren’t any reports of injuries.
“This is a tricky fire,” Sessions said. “There are electrical wires crossed and exposure” to the second building in the complex.
The apartment complex is located in the 5800 block of 200th Street W. Several streets near the apartments remain blocked off, including 200th Street SW, 60th Avenue NE and Scriber Lake Road. Drivers are advised to avoid the area.
The fire broke out around 4:30 p.m. There are about 60 apartments in both buildings. More than 35 families lived in the building that has been consumed by the fire, Sessions said.
Residents in the south building also were forced to leave due to heat and smoke.
Red Cross workers are on scene to assist residents affected by the fire.
John Kroack was at a nearby gas station when he saw the smoke plume rising from the apartment where he has lived for three years.
“I turned around and saw the smoke and immediately came here to see that I was about to lose everything,” Kroack said.
He said he is worried that family heirlooms are gone.
“I am one of the ones who’s burned out but as a Christian, Job has been through far worse,” Kroack said.
People who live at the apartments were gathering together to console one another. Some were worried about the fate of their pets. Others said they were only thinking about where they will live now that their home is destroyed.
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