SEATTLE — Last night at 11:08 p.m., the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting a fire in a one-story vacant building in the 300 block of NW 85th St. near the borderline of the Crown Hill and Greenwood neighborhoods. When the first units arrived on scene, firefighters reported an active fire in the vacant building that was extending to three adjacent buildings to the north and east. At 11:16 p.m., the incident was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire for additional resources to get the fire under control and search the buildings. Eight fire engines, five ladder trucks and additional support units totaling 80 firefighters were dispatched at the height of the incident.
By 11:40 p.m., the roof of the primary building on fire began to collapse. Forcing firefighters to withdraw from the buildings and establish a defensive position by pouring water on the fire at a safe distance. For the next 40 minutes, crews worked tirelessly to knock down the fire and search the east building as it was not structurally compromised. A primary and secondary search confirmed no occupants were inside the east building. A neighboring apartment building suffered water damage from run off that pooled on the first floor and basement garage. Firefighters unclogged drains and utilized pumps to remove the water. Incident command began reducing the response by 12:30 a.m., though a few units will rotate overnight to monitor for flare ups.
No injuries were reported, and the incident is under investigation.
