Neighbors lucky to escape Kent apartment complex fire

KENT -- A fire raged out of control for several minutes at an apartment complex in Kent early Thursday morning.

The first call to 911 came in at around 2:30 a.m. from the Summerwalk Apartments in Kent. When the first-responders arrived they found a building engulfed in flames and quickly called for backup. That’s when fire fighters from Auburn and Renton arrived on the scene and helped out.

The quick work by fire fighters managed to keep the fire from spreading to nearby buildings but four to eight units in this building received extensive damage. Luckily no one was hurt.

Neighbors living nearby had to scramble to wake up friends and family and call for help.

Mira Samarik said, “I just awoke and i looked outside in my backyard and there’s this huge fire. There was a shed on fire and it looked like another bush. So immediately my entire family evacuated and just tried to get out and the fire department was called.”

The investigation team will take over now to determine what happened. This fire could have started in an apartment or a nearby shed and then spread to the apartment building.

The Red Cross was on scene by 4:30 a.m. helping those who didn't have a home to return to. Some very kind neighbors have opened their doors to those in need, officials said.