Yogurt may have saved lives: Neighbor springs into action when fire engulfs Kirkland home

KIRKLAND, Wash. — A neighbor says an early morning snack may have saved lives after one home was destroyed and a second was damaged during a fierce 2-alarm fire in Kirkland early Tuesday.

Crews were called to the home in the 13100 block of 129th Avenue Northeast shortly before 2 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find a home under construction engulfed in flames. The fire had already reached an adjacent house, according to Kirkland Fire Battalion Chief Arthur Lim.

Neighbor Kyle Eskelin shared video of the flames that startled him while he was up grabbing some yogurt. He dropped what he was doing and sprung into action to help.

“My girlfriend’s house, which is next door to that house that was ablaze, was also on fire. That’s when I ran over, I grabbed my fire extinguisher, called 911. It was a very scary situation. It was definitely the scariest day of my life,” said Eskelin.

Eskelin said he managed to get into his neighbor’s house, wake them up, and get them out. They were lucky since Eskelin believes their smoke detectors didn’t work.

The fire from the first home damaged the second home’s siding and attic, but crews were able to keep the damage to a minimum.

The first home is a total loss.

Firefighters had the flames mostly knocked down within 30 to 60 minutes.

Crews remained at the scene watching for hot spots.

Eskelin said the experience was a bit surreal as he recalled everything that happened.

“It was a weird feeling later. I went back to my kitchen and saw the yogurt I went to go grab sitting on the counter still, and looked, and thought, ‘this was the yogurt that potentially saved lives.’”

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