Update: Early Morning House Fire Caused by Ember From 'Chiminea'

Mercer Island Fire Department officials say an ember from an outdoor fireplace, called a "Chiminea", caused an early morning house fire at 3708 86th Ave. SE that resulted in an estimated half-a-million dollars of structure and smoke damage.

Mercer Island and Bellevue firefighters responed to the single response blaze at 6:39 a.m., said Les Kenworthy, a battalion chief. The family of four had safely escaped the home after a passerby saw smoke rising from the back of the house. Firefighters later found the family's pet cat dead in the home, he said.

The fire began on the home's deck, and spread quickly up the back of the home to the attic. There's an estimated $350,000 in damage to the back of the home and the attic, as well as about $150,000 in smoke damage, Kenworthy said.

Kenworthy said the combined Mercer Island and Bellevue response included two ballation chiefs, four engines, and two ladder trucks.

"It was nice to have Bellevue with us out of the gate," Kenworthy said.

King County property records list the owners of the three-bedroom rambler style home as Christopher and Amie Fahey.