A tenant of a house in the 8500 block of South 117th Street in Skyway wasn’t injured in a fire just after 7 p.m. Sunday, according to a spokesman for King County Fire District 20.

However, according to the spokesman, Dave Nelson, damage could have been limited to the house had the tenant called the fire department before calling the home’s owner.

“According to initial investigation findings, a male who occupied the house stated he was smoking and fell asleep on the front couch,” said Nelson. “When he woke up, he noticed smoke in the house and called the owner of the home. He escaped without injury. Just as that was happening, the fire department was just being called for the house fire.”

As firefighters were responding, a column of black smoke was visible. When firefighters arrived, they found about half the house in flames. The building’s structure and metal roof caused further damage and furthered the need to fight the fire, Nelson said.

The house was destroyed and the male occupant will live with family, according to Nelson. There is no damage estimate at this time. Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac and King County Medic One also responded.