Crews battle house fire on Mercer Island

The owner of a Mercer Island home that was nearly destroyed in a fire today said firefighters are investigating whether it began with an electrical fire in the attic.

The fire, at 3854 E. Mercer Way on the east side of the island, sent smoke onto Interstate 90, and backup fire crews were called in from Seattle and Bellevue.

"They think it was smoldering all night," said homeowner Kurt Dammeier. Smoke set off an alarm around 9:30 a.m.

His wife, Leslie, woke up their 14-year-old son, Max, and they left the house safely with their golden retriever, Abbey Road.

"About a half hour later, it was fully enveloped," said Dammeier, who owns Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Pike Place Market, Bennett's Pure Food Bistro on Mercer Island and Pasta & Co.

"I'm feeling upbeat that nobody got hurt, we got a bunch of photos saved, and we're insured," Dammeier said. "So all we have now is an enormous hassle."

There was significant damage to the second floor and probably the first floor of the house, said Mercer Island Fire Department Chief Chris Tubbs. That fire department has only about two major structure fires a year.

The 7,390-square-foot waterfront home was last assessed at $5 million, according to King County property records.

Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com