Flames spread across multiple floors of a 15-unit building on Beacon Hill late Sunday morning.
SEATTLE, WA — A two-alarm fire swept through an apartment building on the 1700 block of 13th Ave S late Sunday morning, forcing evacuations and heavily damaging several units. Fire crews rescued an 87-year-old woman and a firefighter was also injured as dozens of responders worked to contain the blaze.
The fire drew about 75 firefighters and briefly filled blocks of Beacon Hill with smoke as crews attacked flames on the second and third floors. Investigators on Monday said the fire was accidental, likely sparked by unattended candles near combustible items. City inspectors yellow-tagged the building, marking it unsafe to occupy while the structure is evaluated. Residents spent the afternoon gathering belongings and arranging temporary shelter with the help of emergency officials and the Red Cross as crews completed air monitoring and overhaul work.
Dispatchers first fielded a 911 call at 11:58 a.m. Sunday reporting a fire on 13th Ave in Capitol Hill. Crews reached that location by 12:01 p.m. and found no smoke. A second call at 12:03 a.m. corrected the address to 13th Ave S on Beacon Hill; the first company arrived at 12:08 p.m. and reported heavy smoke with an active apartment fire. Command upgraded the response to two alarms at 12:10 p.m., bringing additional engines, ladder companies and medical units. By 12:46 p.m., crews had the main body of fire under control. The blaze was declared extinguished at 2:16 p.m. “We moved quickly once we got the correct location, attacking fire on multiple floors,” Seattle Fire spokesperson David Cuerpo said.
Firefighters rescued an 87-year-old woman from the building; medics took her to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition. A firefighter suffered a non-life-threatening injury and was also transported in stable condition. A second resident, a 48-year-old woman, was evaluated at the scene and did not require hospital care. The fire extended vertically from the second to the third floor, charring hallways and several apartment interiors. Officials did not immediately provide a final count of damaged units, though at least two apartments sustained heavy fire damage and additional units had smoke and water damage. Nearby residents received an AlertSeattle message around 12:30 p.m. advising them to close windows and doors due to smoke.
Investigators on Monday ruled the blaze accidental and said unattended burning candles likely ignited nearby materials. The building remained yellow-tagged by the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections pending further evaluation of structural systems and utilities. King County Metro provided a warming bus while residents waited for approval to retrieve essentials. The Red Cross began coordinating temporary lodging and assistance for displaced tenants. Fire officials said air monitoring did not detect hazardous levels outside the immediate scene, and department crews continued checking for hot spots through the afternoon before returning the response to a single alarm.
Residents described a fast-moving fire that sent smoke curling through stairwells and out of broken windows. “I came home and saw thick smoke pouring from a neighbor’s place,” said Katie Kaminski, who lives in the building. Another resident, Kristen Adamson, said she lost two pet cats and worried that confusion over the initial address delayed help. Fire officials acknowledged the early misdirection but emphasized that crews corrected course within minutes and reached the Beacon Hill building by 12:08 p.m. Neighbors watched from sidewalks as hoses stretched across 13th Ave S and ladder trucks punched water into upper-floor windows.
City inspectors will determine when residents can safely reenter once repairs and utility checks are complete. As of Monday afternoon, the structure remained closed while damage assessments continued and private insurers were notified. Fire investigators closed their case with the accidental finding tied to unattended candles. The next update from city officials is expected after follow-up inspections later this week.
Author note: Last updated January 12, 2026.