Capitol Hill apartment fire sparks large response

Flames and a plume of huge black smoke poured from a Capitol Hill apartment as a two-alarm fire broke out just before noon Thursday.

The fire in the five-story building at 305 Bellevue East and E. Thomas sparked a two-alarm response and large medical response, but no one was injured.

Seattle Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore says the fire started on a rooftop deck and did not spread to the building below. He says the department responded with so many resources because the building is old and had no sprinklers.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials on the deck. Damage is estimated at $25,000.