Three confirmed dead in Tara Apartments blaze

Three people died in a major fire that broke out during the early morning hours of June 29th at the Tara Apartments at 5th Ave S.W. and 155th. The fire destroyed two apartment buildings and damaged a third building. When Cissy Harkelrode smelled smoke at around midnight she knew enough to get out, making her escape out the balcony door of her apartment, then climbing out to hang on a tree limb and balcony rails. Two adjoining eight unit apartments at 155th and 5th sw in Burien were involved. No residents had fire insurance in the low income apartments. The Red Cross is now attempting to find shelter for approximately 50 people displaced by the fire.

Neighbors helped and Red Cross and Starbucks provided free coffee for the crowd and the survivors.

<UPDATEOn Monday afternoon, June 30, 2008, Sgt. John Urquhart, issued the following statement:

King County Fire Investigators have completed their work at the Tara Apartments, 400 block of SW 155th. The 8 unit building was the scene of a fatal fire that occurred about 12:40 AM Sunday morning, June 29th.

Three people died in the fire, including two male adults and a boy about seven or eight years of age. In addition, at least five people were injured, including one man who is in very serious condition at Harborview Hospital.

The Medical Examiner?s Office will release information on the deceased after autopsies and families are notified.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the origin remains ?suspicious?.

Evidence from the fire was collected and will be sent to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.

The fire is being investigated by the Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit and King County Fire Investigators. ATF is not involved in the investigation at this time.

Three buildings were damaged in the fire. Investigators say that the damage estimates, including personal property, is about $1.75 million.

Demolition of the Tara Apartments will begin shortly, perhaps as early as this afternoon.