07/05/2008

Associated Press

A 7,390-square-foot waterfront home on Mercer Island that was last valued by the King County assessor at $5 million has been nearly destroyed by fire.

Friday morning's blaze on Mercer Way on the east side of the island sent smoke onto Interstate 90 and backup fire crews were called in from Seattle and Bellevue. Smoke set off an alarm about 9:30 a.m.

Homeowner Kurt Dammeier, his wife and the couple's 14-year-old son got out of the house safely with their dog.

Dammeier owns Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Seattle's Pike Place Market, Bennett's Pure Food Bistro on Mercer Island and Pasta & Co.

Dammeier says the house was insured. He says fire investigators are investigating whether the blaze began with an electrical fire in the attic.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com