18 displaced after 2-alarm Kent apartment fire

A two-alarm apartment fire in Kent’s East Hill neighborhood displaced 18 residents Sunday evening.

The fire started around 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Summerwalk Apartments along Benson Road Southeast near 224th Street.

Lila Payton was on her balcony when she heard someone yell fire.

“All of a sudden the fire alarms, all over the place, started going off. That scared the crap out of me, because I’ve got two kids and I immediately ran inside and grabbed them,” Payton said.

The fire is believed to have started on the ground floor of the two-story building. It quickly grew to a two-alarm fire. The smoke could be seen from miles away.

Everyone was able to get out safely, there were no injuries.

The Red Cross is assisting the 18 residents that were displaced. The good news is that they should have permanent housing in the same complex soon.

“The managers confirmed that they have apartments that are empty in the complex and they’re going to be able to rehouse people relatively quickly, “ said Captain Kyle Ohashi with the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.