Flames spread through a Lake City home early Thursday when the resident tried to start a fire in a fireplace that had previously been sealed, officials said.
Seattle firefighters responded to the scene, in the 7500 block of Lake City Way, at around 2 a.m. after receiving reports of smoke and flames at a residence there.
The home's occupant, an older gentleman, was rescued from the home and crews extinguished the flames. The man was uninjured.
Firefighters were hampered in their response due to the large amount of material that had been hoarded in the home.
A preliminary investigation found that the home's resident had started a fire in a fireplace that had been sealed up, causing the blaze to spread to the adjoining rooms.