2 hurt as furnace explosion burns multi-million dollar homes
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SEATTLE -- Two people were hurt and six homes were damaged when a furnace exploded on a waterfront home under construction along Lake Washington Monday.
The 3-alarm fire broke out at the home in the 5100 block of Laurelcrest Lane just after 3:30 p.m. A thick black column of smoke was visible across much of Seattle and the Lake Washington shores.
One construction worker suffered serious burns and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but his condition was not known. A Seattle firefighter had to be treated for heat exhaustion.
The raging blaze sent embers flying across the neighborhood and five nearby homes suffered fire damage as well, with the immediate neighbors' homes suffering significant damage, officials said.
Investigators said the fire started when paint fumes ignited after the furnace turned on.
Damage is estimated at over $7 million.
The 3-alarm fire broke out at the home in the 5100 block of Laurelcrest Lane just after 3:30 p.m. A thick black column of smoke was visible across much of Seattle and the Lake Washington shores.
One construction worker suffered serious burns and was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, but his condition was not known. A Seattle firefighter had to be treated for heat exhaustion.
The raging blaze sent embers flying across the neighborhood and five nearby homes suffered fire damage as well, with the immediate neighbors' homes suffering significant damage, officials said.
Investigators said the fire started when paint fumes ignited after the furnace turned on.
Damage is estimated at over $7 million.
Tremendously sorry for the owners of this home. The home we were building over a two year period also caught fire due to extreme carelessness concerning the painters, who left a bucket of paint rags in the entryway, which in turn combusted. I don't know who turned the furnace on in this situation...but it should have been a known fact that it's just not done, the painters and the contractor should have known and warned about this.
The fire in our home was about 15 minutes away from spreading to the neighbors home...thankfully a man walking his dog (at 5a.m.)Â saw the smoke, and called 911...so sorry the neighbors were affected in this fire, very scary.
Best to the owners in moving forward...hang in there.Â
Oh look, it's one of my customers that was doing work on that job! Not good for him!
Well one thing for sure on the new construction, they have gas flow.....
Furnace fire on a 70 degree day at 3:30? Really?
 @Biff It was new construction. Probably being tested or installed.
so what EXACTLY caused the furnace to explode?? Hopefully the worker will be ok.
Headline in another KOMO story:
"Governor issues emergency burn ban in every county"
Didn't they get the memo?
@Glassman: not sure if you were being facetious, but just to clarify, No one was burning anything, a gas furnace (used to heat air and transport it throughout the home for warmth) exploded. That explosion then ignited the house, surrounding trees, and several more houses due to the dry conditions. A gas furnace is not restricted under a burn ban as it (usually!) does not create an open flame or heat that leaves the house.
Hope no one was hurt too badly...
 @BucktoothTug Knowing Glassman, I am sure he was being facetious!
I hope the two people hurt will soon be AOK! And I don't care how wealthy you are, having your home burn is traumatic. Everyone involved has my sympathy!
I hope the construction worker pulls through & that the firefighter is doing okay.
Yeah, not thinking they need help from the Red Cross... they are gazillionaires; they probably help fund the Red Cross!
I wonder if this was a propane furnace. Electric furnaces don't "explode" and I'm not sure about gas lines down there. A big propane tank exploding makes more sense.
 @Mumblix Grumph More likely a pilotless natural gas device installed incorrectly - or a defective or improperly-installed hot water boiler that got overheated and "steamed". In a home under construction, it would not take much of an "explosion" to set the framing aflame - especially if the result was an open and flaming gas line.Very commonly a gas-fired water heater / boiler can do this. Not likely a propane device inside Seattle, however.
 @Mumblix Grumph In a multi-million dollar house, though?
Hope the installer has insurance. This stuff just doesn't 'happen'.
My name is Norene Beaver and I am Director of an organization called Out of the Ashes. We started the organization following our second home fire. I have a 17 page booklet (and other information) I would like to get to the families involved. It is full of information on first steps, next steps and how to not fall prey to people in the industry that don't have your best interests at heart. If anyone knows how to reach the families involved, please mail me at contact@outoftheasheswa.org - all of our services are offered free of charge. We think outside of the box when it comes to recovery. We have been in their shoes and want to help. Prayers to all involved. Norene
We have been there also! No matter how much money one makes is not relevent at all! When you lose family photos, heir looms and personal memories that can not be replaced you will only receive the value for the material and no the personal content it may have contained!
It is nice to see you offer some assistance, since we also agree the insurance adjusters work for the insurance company and not the home owner and the prefered contractors for the insurance companies also work for the insurance company and others that specialize in repair that act like they are on the up & up are real con-artists!
We maxed out our insurance and the licensed and bonded contractor that repaired our chimney flue that caused the fire didn't even end up with a black mark, since his insurance said he was not covered to do the work and wanted to go to federal court against us, our insurer and the contractor about his work performed, since they said the work was not covered!
The contractor had no assets if we would have taken him to court and won, so we would be out attorney and court fees, so we just settled with our insurer and thus we could take no further action!
He is listed on Angies List for those of you who use it?
 @Norene Smith Beaver How nice of you =)  I can't imagine how overwhelming a situation like this would be.
"Furnace exploded on a waterfront home..." *ON* the house?
"Firefighters appeared to have finally extinguished much of the flames by late evening." Written in late afternoon.
Who the heck wrote this? Seriously... WORST ARTICLE EVER!!!
Journalism FAIL!
 @Fooey Patooey! remember, this is the NEWS folks...when does journalism NOT fail these days?!?!
 @Fooey Patooey! I somewhat agree. However, you must also keep in mind that we are both able to read and comment here at no cost. In other words, this is a free service. I will take the typos, poor grammar, etc., over nothing...
What causes a furnace to explode? Â I suppose it depends on what type but this seems unusual.
Gas leak maybe?
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Late evening? it's only 5:20 PM.  What is considered late evening?
@ Harrison  I doubt that these home owners need help from the Red Cross or Salvation Army.  These are lakefront homes = $$$
I would be more concerned for the 2 injured and wish them a speedy recovery.Â
Wow! Hope everybody is okay. I am very curious what caused the furnace to blow up.
Furnaces don't "blow up"... What usually causes furnace fires is a faulty high limit switch or a bogus contractor bypassing a high limit switch. There are a few things bonehead furnace contractors can do to set a house on fire but it will usually happen while they are there or shortly after. This is why its always a good idea to have your furnace regularly maintained. If you want it done right call Phoenix Heating & Air Conditioning, I'm the owner and we actually do something in our maintenance inspections!
 @Amber McDanel Consider that one of the most common forms of hot water heating boiler is simply a large gas-fired hot water heater. One of these - if improperly installed with a blocked TPR and a defective gas valve - can indeed explode - literally sending the tank right through the roof and high into the air. The open gas piping then creates a flame that can light up the whole house. Speculation, but it does happen.
i hope the red cross or salvation army is able to help them find a place to stay tonight