The man and woman who died in last week’s apartment fire in a 23rd Ave building for elderly and disabled residents have been identified as Emily Tarter, 66, and Robert Johnson, 64.

The building residents died last Thursday night in the blaze that burned through a third floor apartment in the Elizabeth James House, a 1968-built Community Roots Housing affordable housing building at 109 23rd Ave E.

The Seattle Fire Marshal has ruled the cause of the fire “undetermined” but Seattle Police said it was likely accidental. There was no evidence of violence or an intentionally set fire, according to police. The Seattle Fire response was slowed by reported crowded conditions in the apartment unit, according to emergency radio updates from the night.

A dog also died in the blaze.

The Elizabeth James House is HUD-subsidized housing and provides a home to elderly and disabled residents in its 60 units.

A spokesperson for Community Roots Housing said the housing provider was coordinating with the Seattle Fire Department as they investigated the incident and was providing resources to residents impacted by the tragedy including work to repair water damage from the response to extinguish the blaze.

PLEASE HELP KEEP CHS PAYWALL-FREE!
Subscribe to CHS to help us pay writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. Become a subscriber to help us cover the neighborhood for as little as $5 a month.