Fire destroys large, century-old home on Bainbridge's Restoration Point

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — A fire destroyed a large century-old house Sunday morning on Bainbridge's south end.

A man thought to be in his 40s suffered smoke inhalation and was flown to Harborview Hospital in Seattle shortly after firefighters were called to the scene at 6:15 a.m., according to the Bainbridge Island Fire Department. No other injuries were reported.

Five people were staying overnight at the home's property, which is part of a large gated community at the end of Country Club Road on Restoration Point. The approximately 3,500-square-foot house's two occupants were able to escape. Three people were sleeping in a neighboring guesthouse, which suffered no significant damage.

Bainbridge Fire Chief Hank Teran said the main house is a total loss. It overlooks Seattle from a high bluff.

The smoke was visible across Puget Sound.

"We received a number of calls, including one from a ferry," Teran said.

Kate Jacobson was sleeping in the guesthouse when her dogs woke her.

"The dogs were doing something. I looked out, and I screamed over (at the main house) and ran outside," she said.

Her sister, Nancy Jacobson, was sleeping in the main house with her fiance, Matt Sullivan.

"I heard crackling and screaming," Nancy Jacobson said with tears in her eyes and a blanket around her shoulders. "It was mainly in the chimney. There was a lot of smoke."

Teran said it's too early to know what caused the fire.

That it might have been caused by a fireplace or chimney fire is "hearsay right now, but we're looking into it," he said.

About 20 firefighters from the Bainbridge, Poulsbo and North Kitsap fire departments were at the scene. The Leschi fire boat came from Seattle and floated on standby for several minutes. It was sent back after firefighters contained the blaze.

Nancy Jacobson, 29, of Seattle said the house is owned by her parents. She and her friends were staying over the weekend. The house is usually unoccupied.

She and Sullivan planned to marry at the house in a few months.

"We sent out the save-the-dates two days ago," Sullivan said.

Nancy Jacobson said the house was built by her "great-great-grandfather."

"And his great-great-grandchildren will rebuild it, right?" Kate Jacobson said to her sister.

Most of the fire was extinguished by 8 a.m.

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Fire destroys large, century-old home on Bainbridge's Restoration Point