7 people injured in ‘suspicious’ Bellevue apartment fire

Flames engulfed a three-story building at a Bellevue apartment complex Tuesday, sending seven people to hospitals and drawing about 100 first responders, fire officials said.

Two people with significant injuries were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Bellevue Fire Department Lt. Rich Burke said.

The hospital received two men. One was in serious condition in intensive care and the other was in satisfactory condition, spokeswoman Susan Gregg said.

Five people with minor injuries were taken to hospitals on the Eastside. They include a firefighter who cut her hand, Burke said.

Bellevue Police spokesperson Carla Iafrate said they’re now investigating the fire as a crime.

“In a joint investigation with our police detectives, we’ve determined that there probably is something suspicious, so we’ve now taken the lead on the investigation,” she said.

There were multiple 911 calls when the fire broke out at about 6:30 a.m. at the Hampton Greens, a complex with about three dozen buildings on 16 acres.

There were initial reports of an explosion, Burke said. It took about an hour-and-a-half to control the fire, and there were about 80 firefighters from Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland at the scene, along with about 20 police officers, he said.

The fire nearly destroyed one three-story building with 10 units, Burke said. Firefighters would have to remove a heavy tile roof before investigators could go inside. It may take days for police and fire investigators to determine the cause, he said.

Displaced residents were sheltered in a bus and are receiving aid from the Red Cross.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.