The Kent Fire Department reported four adults, an infant and three dogs escape unharmed from a fire that nearly destroyed their Kent area home Wednesday evening. Family and the Red Cross are pitching in to assist the victims with food, clothing and shelter.

Fire crews from Kent and Renton arrived at approximately 7:50 p.m. to find dark grey smoke pushing out under pressure from the eaves and flames showing on the back side of the home. Firefighters quickly made entry and were able to knock down the fire that had started in the kitchen and extended into the attic area. The two story home located in the 12500 block of SE 217th St. was damaged significantly by smoke and flames to the upper floor and had some smoke and water damage to the lower floor. King County Fire investigators estimated the loss to be $140,000.

The cause of the fire was determined to be food left unattended on the stove. The fire department asks that people use caution in the kitchen to keep flammable materials away from the stove and never leave food cooking unattended.