Pet Rabbit Perishes in Kirkland House Fire

At least one family pet, a rabbit, died in a fire at a Rose Hill home this afternoon.

A one-alarm fire called in by a neighbor took Kirkland firefighters to a home on the the 8300 block of 132nd Ave. NE, where they found a house in flames, and aside from the rabbit, it wasn't clear Monday afternoon if any other animals had been inside in the home during the fire.

By just after 1 p.m., the fire was knocked down and the homeowner notified, but the smoky smell of the fire still hung in the air as Kirkland firefighters awaited a Kirkland fire investigator.

It appeared the fire began in the kitchen, said Battalion Chief Joe Sanford said, then traveled through the pantry to the second level of the house. A neighbor said he sasw smoke coming from the roof of the house, then fire under the eaves.

Firefighters from Redmond and Bellevue also assisted with the single-alarm fire.