Fire destroys elementary school teacher’s home
January 2, 2009
By Chantelle Lusebrink
A Newcastle Elementary School teacher’s house was destroyed in a Dec. 21 fire.
The fire at 4721 192nd Place S.E. destroyed everything, causing about $600,000 in damage. By Chantelle Lusebrink
Jessica Smith, a third-grade teacher, and her family were at a relative’s house having dinner at the time of the fire.
Firefighters battled the fire at 4721 192nd Place S.E. in Issaquah’s South Cove neighborhood south of Lake Sammamish for hours. The family’s dog was outside the home, but was unharmed.
But nothing appeared to be salvageable and investigators and neighbors said the family lost everything. The Smiths declined to comment about the fire and were reluctant to ask for help, neighbors said.
Firefighters were called to the home at 4:16 p.m. by neighbor Steve Sanelli. They fought the blaze until about 11:30 p.m., according to Josie Williams, public information officer for Eastside Fire & Rescue.
Three engines from EFR, three engines from the Bellevue Fire Department and a ladder truck from the Redmond Fire Department responded to the blaze, which caused about $600,000 in damage, according to Gerry Kenny, a fire investigator for the King County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.
The smell of smoke and burnt wiring, plastic and other materials was still heavy in the air the following day as Shay Weer, an Issaquah building inspection supervisor, cordoned off the area with red tape.
Sanelli said he was looking at the house, where he raised his four boys between 1982 and 1998, when he noticed smoke coming out the back.
“Right now, the house, my old house, is completely gutted,” he said. “I’ve seen two house fires in my life, one when I was a kid, but I’ve never seen one go up so fast.”
Sanelli and his family, as well as neighbors Matt and Cindy Wimmer are organizing relief efforts for the family.
The family needs clothing for Smith, her husband and their 1-year-old son. The Smiths are expecting an infant in the near future.
The family is staying with relatives in the area, but Sanelli said if they need a place to stay they have nearly 364 neighbors who will help with housing needs — “one for every day of the year.”
What they need
Food; store gift cards/cash donations; electronics and home appliances; blankets; diapers; toys; suitcases/bags; dog food; men’s clothing – XXL shirts, size 38/40 pants with an inseam of 32 and size 14 shoes; women’s clothing – extra-small shirts, size 2 and 4 pants, maternity clothing and size 7 shoes; toddler clothing; 12-18 months and size 5 shoes; and infant clothing and supplies
Take donations to
- Steve and Melinda Sanelli’s Good Fellas Deli, 13555 S.E. 36th Place, Suite LL1, Bellevue from 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday-Friday
- The Sanelli home, 4724 192nd Place S.E. Call the business at 562-8768 or Steve’s cell phone, 444-4747.
- The Wimmer home, 4708 193rd Place S.E. Call 746-9196.
Bank deposits
Go to any Bank of America and directly deposit funds into the “Paul and Jessica Rebuild Account.” Wire transfers are also accepted. Wire money to the Bellevue Bank of America Branch, 10555 N.E. Eighth St., Bellevue, WA 98004. The branch number is ABA0260-0959-3. Enter swistu.s.$bofaus3n, routing number 125000024 and account number 38196143.
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