Morning House Fire Leaves Yakima Man Injured

Yakima Firefighters battled flames of a house fire in the 200 block of South 47th Avenue early Tuesday morning. A 70-year-old man was injured and taken to a Yakima hospital but then transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle where he's being treated for burns.

Firefighters were called to the home early Tuesday morning

Firefighters were called to the home at about 1:51 am Tuesday. Crews arrived and found the front side of the home engulfed in flames. Investigators say the man living in the home was burned before he escaped the house fire. No other injuries were reported. Firefighters were also able to save the man's dog. A news release from the Yakima Fire Department says crews worked to douse the flames from the outside then worked inside the home to extinguish more fire.

Fire investigators are now searching for a cause

Investigators say the fire damaged a majority of the inside of the home and extended into the attic. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage is estimated at $300,000.
A total of 16 firefighters helped extinguish the house fire on Tuesday morning.

Fewer fires are reported in the spring and summer but they still happen

As the weather changes and more people spend more time outdoors firefighters will see fewer home fires. In fact the United States Fire Administration says "less than 8 percent of house fires and less than 6 percent of fatal house fires occur in each of the summer months. By contrast, more than 12 percent of fatal fires and more than 10 percent of all house fires occur in December and January."
Firefighters are urging everyone to be careful with backyard fire pits and BBQ's during the summer months.