Granddaughter Helps Bridle Trails School Owner Escape Blaze

The owner of Bridle Trails School and her granddaughter escaped a Sunday night blaze that caused $250,000 damage to the private preschool and the attached home upstairs, Bellevue Fire Department reported.

According to the Bellevue Fire Department, firefighters from Bellevue and Redmond expected the worst when the owner of the preschool called 9-1-1 just before 6:30 p.m. Sunday night to report the fire at her home, and then hung up abruptly on dispatchers. 

Bellevue and Redmond firefighters raced to the house and school property, at 3048 140th Ave NE, Bellevue, and arrived within four minutes. They found the woman had escaped her home with the help of her granddaughter, according to the Bellevue Fire Department.

The women were transported to Overlake Hospital, and released Sunday night, the fire department reported.

The fire was brought under control in 32 minutes, according to the Bellevue fire department and fire damage was contained to the second story, where it originated in a bedroom, according to the Bellevue Fire Department.

The preschool, located on the first floor, sustained water and smoke damage and was closed to the 80 students who attended, the fire department reported.

The cause of the blaze has not yet been determined as of Monday afternoon, according to the Bellevue Fire Department. 

“We would like to get up and running as quickly as possible” said Karen Miller, a Bridle School employee and the owner/occupant’s daughter, told the Bellevue Fire Department. The school is looking at several options, including portable classrooms and using unaffected structures on the property, according to the fire department.