Seattle Fire crews mistakenly sent to Capitol Hill’s 13th Ave in response to two-alarm apartment building fire on Beacon Hill

(Image: Seattle Fire)

A two-alarm apartment fire in Beacon Hill is the latest reminder to be as clear as possible with your street directionals and cross streets when calling 911 in Seattle.

Seattle Fire says its response to a major fire on Beacon Hill Sunday morning was delayed when crews were dispatched to Capitol Hill after a 911 call “reporting a fire in an apartment building in the 1700 block of 13th Ave.”

SFD says the first crews reported no fire in the area as they arrived near 13th and E Olive St. Sunday at 12:01 PM, three minutes after the initial call.

The fire department says a second 911 call came in at 12:03 PM reporting the fire was on Beacon Hill in the 17000 block of 13th Ave South — more than two miles away.

SFD says its first crew arrived at the apartment fire by 12:08 PM and reported a fire and heavy smoke coming from the building.

The fire was upgraded to a 2-alarm response as more units were assigned to fight the blaze.

Firefighters battled the fire as it spread across two floors of the building. It was reported under control by 12:45 PM as SFD advised nearby residents to close windows and doors due to smoke.

Seattle Fire treated an 87-year-old and transported her to Harborview in stable condition . A 48-year-old woman was evaluated at the scene but did not require transportation to the hospital. A firefighter was also injured while fighting the fire and was taken to Harborview in stable condition.

An investigation was underway to determine a cause. UPDATE: SFD says the fire has been ruled accidental, “likely caused by burning candles left unattended next to other combustible items.”

Confusion regarding “east” and “plain” designations of Capitol Hill and Central District-area streets is a common issue for 911 calls in the area. In 2022, CHS reported on Seattle Fire crews receiving an initially incorrect address in the response to the deadly shooting of a neighborhood business owner on MLK Way.

SFD says the latest incident is a reminder of the importance of providing clear information — and making sure 911 operators understand:

During this fire, the initial 911 calls reported incorrect/incomplete addresses. In order for firefighters to respond as quickly as possible, it is important to know the accurate location of the incident. Dispatchers will ask for the specific address and confirm the location before getting off the call. If you are unsure, look for the closest cross streets to help crews respond to the correct block address.

Officials say the Beacon Hill fire is also a lesson for apartment dwellers after a door was left open as residents fled the building. “Closing doors limits oxygen to a fire, thereby slowing its spread and potentially limiting damage,” SFD’s report on the incident reads. “Please close the doors when evacuating a burning structure, if you can do so safely. Once you get to a safe place, call 911 to report the fire.”

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