The Red Cross is seeking donations to help the more than 35 families who were displaced after a fire blazed through the north building of Lynnwood’s LynnView Apartments Monday. The families are

currently staying at Lynnwood’s Trinity Lutheran Church.

The was reported just after 4:30 p.m. Monday, when someone called 911 reporting flames showing in the 5800 block of 200^th Street Southwest . Fire crews started an interior attack, all units were evacuated and no one was injured. The fire moved quickly through all four stories of the north side building, involving the whole structure in flames. Firefighters backed out and started a defensive mode to protect exposures.

Fighting this fire was particularly tricky as the whole north side of the building, which is up on a hill, was butted up against a strip mall and power lines were draped across the area, which prevented access to the north side of the building, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said. A preliminary investigation indicate the likely cause of the fire was from cooking food. The estimated cost of damage is $3 million.

Crews continued working through the night and continue to work Tuesday on spot fires and assisting in the investigation of the fire. Along with Lynnwood Fire, crews from Fire District 1 (now serving Edmonds) and Shoreline Fire responded.

Anyone wanting to help the fire victims can call the Red Cross donation line at 425-252-4103.