UPDATE: Kennydale House Fire Was Accidental; Kid Playing With Lighter Sparked The Blaze

Update 7/30/2012—

Fire investigators have determinded that Sunday's house fire on Moneterey Avenue NE was "accidental." Interviews with the home's occupants reveled that a kid inadvertently sparked the blaze while playing with a lighter.

Origianl story, 7/29/2012—

A residential fire in the Kennydale neighborhood resulted in the 'total loss' of one home and damage to two neighboring houses in the 2400 block of Monterey Avenue NE.

The fire broke out about 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, according to Battalion Chief Erik Wallgren of Renton Fire and Emergency Services.

Fire units arrived just five minutes after the first call; however, firefighters found one house fully engulfed in flames, one threatened by the flames and another house just catching fire.

"This fire had a good start," he said of the extensive damage.

Renton Fire and Emergency Services, Bellevue Fire and Fire District 20 (Skyway Fire) all responded to the scene for a total of 21 firefighters.

"Fires this size usually require mutual aid," he said.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, neighbors suggested the blaze may have been started by a youth playing with matches. It's also unknown if the home had smoke detectors.

Wallgren confirmed that the department had received similar information, and was in the process of interviewing the people displaced by the fire.

Seven people are displaced by the fire. All but one escaped without injury. One victim was treated and released at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters also retrieved two dogs from the scene. Both were uninjured. Patch will update this story with more information as it become available.