Residents have been displaced from about 90 units and one person was injured jumping from a third-floor unit during a two-alarm fire Friday morning in Kent at the Woodland Estates Apartments, 4821 Kent Des Moines Road.
The fire broke out at about 9:02 a.m. in a fourth-floor unit, said Puget Sound Fire spokesman Joe Root during a phone interview. Four engines and a ladder truck arrived and fire officials soon issued a second alarm, doubling the number of trucks and firefighters at the scene. Zone 3 Rehab (for firefighters) and King County Medic One also arrived along with Kent Police.
The apartments are just south of Kent Des Moines Road (State Route 516) and east of West Meeker Street and Reith Road.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
One person was injured when they jumped from a third-floor unit and suffered a possible broken leg, Root said. There were no other injuries.
More than 50 emergency responder personnel were on scene, Root said. Five fire departments responded, including Kent-based Puget Sound Fire, Federal Way-based South King Fire and Rescue, Auburn-based Valley Regional Fire Authority, Renton and Tukwila.
Property management, fire officials and Puget Sound Energy staff toured the complex and decided that none of the units should be occupied.
Red Cross will assist residents who were displaced by the fire.
Root said he did not yet have a count of how many people will be displaced. Property management and Red Cross met with residents to discuss their options and find shelter for those who need a place to go.
Red Cross said in a tweet Friday afternoon that the number of units and length of time they will be impacted is still unknown.
“We are now working to identify a Red Cross emergency shelter location to house and care for the families impacted by this fire,” according to Red Cross.
The fire appeared to be contained to three upstairs units, but several units sustained water damage, Root said. He said it was unknown when residents might be able to return to units that were not damaged by fire or water.
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