MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — No one was injured in two unrelated fires in Mountlake Terrace on Monday.
The first fire was reported around 2:30 p.m. at a home in the 4500 block of 224th Place SW.
A passerby reported flames coming from the back deck. Firefighters had the blaze under control in less than 10 minutes.
The fire was confined to the deck and a small area of the attic, Snohomish County Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said.
Damage was estimated at $35,000.
Fire investigators determined the fire started in a flower pot on the deck and most likely was caused by a discarded cigarette or spontaneous combustion of the peat moss in the pot, Hynes said.
The second fire was reported about 4:45 p.m. in a detached garage at a home in the 23300 block of 53rd Avenue W.
Firefighters could see a column of black smoke as they approached. The garage was in flames and torched five tall evergreen trees nearby, Hynes said. The fire also burned a fence and damaged a storage shed on a neighboring property.
The fire heavily damaged the garage and household items, tools, a boat and motors stored inside. Investigators estimate the loss at more than $80,000.
“The homeowner told investigators he had just finished mowing the lawn and had stored the lawn mower in the garage minutes before the fire broke out. Fire investigators believe the fire most likely started when the heated-up lawn mower came in contact with combustible items in the garage,” Hynes said.
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