UPDATED: Kent firefighters battle two blazes over holiday

The Kent Fire Department was kept busy over the holiday with a pair of house fires that has displaced a total of seven residents from their homes.

The first fire occurred at approximately 12:20 a.m. Friday in the 12100 block of Kent-Kangley Road.

Firefighters were called to the scene of house fire and arrived to find smoke pouring out of the single-family home.

According to Captain Kyle Ohashi there were no injuries resulting from the fire and the family of two adults and one child is staying with family members, so the Red Cross was not called.

Ohashi said one member of the family was awake at the time of the fire and saw the smoke and flames, waking up the other two members and getting everyone out of the house safely.

Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control within 20 minutes and kept it from spreading to neighboring residences.

The fire has been ruled accidental and was caused by food left unattended on a stove. Damage to the house is estimated at $88,000.

The second fire occurred at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon in the 10900 block of Southeast 227th Place.

According to a press release, firefighters arrived at the home in less than six minutes only to find 25 percent of the manufactured home already in flames. Firefighters were again able to contain the fire.

All four residents, an adult and three teenagers, were able to escape the fire without injury and the Red Cross is working to find them shelter and necessities.

According to the press release, the fire was caused by an unattended candle in a bedroom. The house is considered a total loss by investigators.

Contact Kent Reporter General assignment reporter Brian Beckley at bbeckley@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5054.

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