Update: Truck Fire on South-end of Mercer Island

Update, 7:30 p.m.:

The Mercer Island Fire Department issued a press release on the fire with a few additional details. Here's the full text of the press release:

"At 1238 Thursday, January 24th Mercer Island Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire at 8451 West Mercer way. The vehicle was burning within twelve feet of a residence and began burning trees. Mercer Island Fire units requested additional units to respond from Bellevue Fire Department to assist with firefighting operations.  The owner was at home when the fire outside her residence started.  A cube van service truck was parked outside doing routine maintenance when a broke out in the rear of the vehicle. The resident quickly called 911, evacuated the home and alerted neighbors. No injuries were reported.

The fire originated in the back of the truck and quickly spread to gasoline containers and other combustible materials, eventually engulfing the entire vehicle. When firefighters arrived, the cube van was fully involved and threatening the nearby residence.  Fire fighters extinguished the fire with a single attack line and two fire engines. The vehicle was a total loss.

A total of 6 fire apparatus were used at this incident and approximately 13 firefighters. This included 8 firefighters on duty at Mercer Island and 5 firefighters from Bellevue."



Update, 2:30 p.m.:

Mercer Island firefighters extinguished a service truck that caught fire in the driveway of a waterfront home at around 1 p.m. off West Mercer Way on Mercer Island's South-end.

No injuries were reported, but the truck was reported as a total loss and a nearby tree was partially burned.

Mercer Island Fire Battalion Chief Les Kenworthy said a contractor was doing some work at a house, located at 8451 West Mercer Way, when it ignited and became fully involved.

On-duty firefighters were conducting a training exercise at Station 91 on the North-end of the Island when they were first alerted at 12:38 p.m.

MIFD Midi 91 and Engine 92 were dispatched to the single-alarm blaze, with the smaller fire engine threading its way to the bottom of a steep driveway, first reaching the fire at 12:58 p.m.

Firefighters closed off West Mercer Way for over an hour as Engine 92 used a nearby fire hydrant to resupply the Midi fire engine that reached the house.

"We have these specialty firetrucks for these very occasions," Kenworthy said. "On Mercer Island, we have a number of waterfront homes at the end of narrow and steep driveways like this one."

Firefighters extinguised the truck and a tree that caught fire next to the house in a matter of minutes. The fire occurred about 10-12 feet away from the house. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

...

Original Story: Mercer Island firefighters are responded to a truck fire at 1 p.m. Thursday on the south end of Mercer Island.

First reported by KomoNews.com via Twitter, a KOMO 4 TV helicopter spotted a plume of smoke on the 8400 block of West Mercer Way. Mercer Island Firefighters repsponded to the location.

Mercer Island Patch readers and via Facebook asked why a Komo 4 TV News helicopter was circling overhead.

This is a Mercer Island Patch Breaking News Alert. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

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