Eight teenage girls are safe after a fire broke out this morning at an Edmonds home where they had been attending a sleepover party.

The fire at the house in the 17500 block of 72nd Ave. W was reported at 11:09 a.m. The girls told firefighters they saw smoke coming from the basement, then smoke alarms sounded and they safely exited the house.

The two-alarm fire destroyed the 2900-square foot one-story house with a daylight basement. The loss is estimated at $275,000.

“Firefighters responding from downtown Edmonds could see a large column of black smoke,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1, which provides fire service to the City of Edmonds. “When they arrived, half the house was engulfed and flames were already through the roof.”

The firefighters called for a second alarm and more than 30 firefighters from Fire District 1, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace responded to the fire. There were no injuries.

“Fire conditions made it unsafe for firefighters to enter the house, so they had to attack the fire from outside,” Hynes said. “It took about 40 minutes to bring the fire under control, but crews expect to be on the scene throughout the night watching for hot spots”

Fire investigators will be at the fire scene tomorrow to continue their efforts to determine the cause of the fire. “It’s still too hot and the structure is too unstable for the investigators to enter today,” Hynes said.

Red Cross and Support 7 responded to assist the family of five that was renting the house. The renters and the homeowner have insurance.