Family escapes from Eastgate house fire

An Eastgate home was heavily damaged by a fire early Tuesday morning, but the family was able to escape safely.

The blaze started around 4:45 a.m. One occupant woke to find her bedroom floor on fire. When she couldn’t extinguish the fire, she woke the rest of the family and called 911.

A total of eight fire engines, three ladder trucks and a medic unit responded to the scene. In addition to Bellevue Fire units, Mercer Island and Eastside Fire and Rescue sent assistance. The house, on the 15800 block of Southeast 43rd Place sustained an estimated $350,000 in damage.

All of the residents were part of the same extended family spanning three generations. A pet parrot was taken from the daylight basement alive, but covered with soot. A family cat still has not been located.

Bellevue Fire investigators arrived on scene and began looking for a cause. Initial information indicated the fire was accidental.

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