Update: West Seattle apartment fire in 2200 block of SW Holden

(Added 4:53 am: Looking eastbound/downhill on SW Holden at the sizable initial response)
3:34 AM: Fire units are at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of SW Holden (map). Scanner indicates the fire is confined to a single unit in a 3-story building.

3:49 AM UPDATE: Both SW Holden and 22nd SW are blocked; our crew on the scene indicates that the fire is closer to 24th, in terms of a cross-street. No indication of any injuries; we had already heard on the scanner that everyone had gotten out of the building OK, and that the fire is “tapped.” Cameraphone photo added; that’s Ladder 13, out of Highland Park’s Station 11.

CLICK AHEAD FOR MORE OF OUR COVERAGE AS-IT-HAPPENED (including video of battalion chief briefing):

4 AM UPDATE: Some of the units are being dismissed (there was a huge initial response because that’s standard for any building of this type/size). Investigators are already on scene to try to figure out how the fire started.

4:14 AM UPDATE: Battalion Chief Phil Jose has just spoken with us and the other media on scene. (video added, above) The fire started on the “exterior” of a second-floor unit, likely in a couch on its balcony; the units above and below that are also affected, and between those three units, nine people will be unable to return to their units (the Red Cross was called in to help them). The battalion chief confirms no injuries.

(Photo tweeted by @feefeelarue, republished with permission)
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: The official cause – “improperly discarded smoking materials” ignited something on the balcony. The Red Cross is indeed helping the nine people whose three apartments are “uninhabitable” until fixed; damage estimated at $55,000, almost entirely outside.

Karrie Kohlhaas March 18, 2011 (3:36 am)

Thanks. The ongoing sirens woke us up.

Tim March 18, 2011 (3:38 am)

Just walked down Holden from our house, SPD has it blocked just East of the EC Hughes playground.

The SFD dispatch logs look like they’ve sent a ton of units.

Paige March 18, 2011 (3:46 am)

Us to. Camera crews are parking in our driveway. I’ve never seen so many emergency vehicles in one place.

WSB March 18, 2011 (3:48 am)

Because it’s an apartment building, they send even more units than to a single-family residence fire – you never know. Our crew is there and I’m waiting for word from them, but in the meantime, the fire is tapped, the floors are reported “all clear” (everybody got out), no word of injuries.

feefeelarue March 18, 2011 (3:57 am)

theres all sorts of sawing going on i live directly across from apt in the complex

Nena March 18, 2011 (4:46 am)

I live in one of the apartments across from the building the fire took place in. I’m relieved that, in all likelihood, no one was hurt. There’s a lot of loud sawing noises going on right now, though I’m not sure exactly why. Still a load of emergency vehicles out there. Going to attempt to sleep again.

WSB March 18, 2011 (5:31 am)

Often firefighters have to ventilate a unit or home where there was a fire, and so chainsaw into the roof or wall – photos and video from fire scenes show that time and again. It’s often ventilation required for some reason or another that I will leave to the professional firefighters to explain! – TR

lucky chick March 18, 2011 (8:37 am)

Seriously, WSB, when do you sleep? It’s astounding how you manage to be on top of everything at all times and still string together coherent sentences (I appreciate a good writer). Please give yourself a raise :) !
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And ditto the photographer – sorry I don’t have your name.

WSB March 18, 2011 (8:49 am)

In this case co-publisher Patrick (Sand) was the photographer (my husband of a gazillion years), he often goes out to the scene while I (Tracy) am back here with the scanner and laptop and watching other infostreams while writing and updating the story. And thanks to contributor Katie for the text that woke us up when she saw the fire call – I had not been asleep long but would have hated to miss this (things have been quiet lately but don’t forget to please text or call if you see or hear breaking news, in case we’re not already on it despite our best efforts, 206-293-6302). Also thanks to “Feefeelarue” from twitter for that last photo – she lives nearby and agreed to let us publish it – nice view of the firefighters working on multiple levels once the flames were out. – TR

Jim P March 18, 2011 (10:21 am)

“Us to. Camera crews are parking in our driveway.”

The arrogance and presumption of news crews is endless. I used to live in Los Angeles and they’d almost always park in bus stops or even set up entire news trucks on the sidewalk downtown etc and just stare at you when you pointed out to them that this made it rather a bit difficult for blind and wheelchair bus riders to use the bus or even to go about their lawful business on the sidewalks.

I found that getting pictures and going to the head of the news department for whatever outlet you had using your property without permission can work. They don’t like bad publicity of that sort if you make enough noise.

If they actually blocked your vehicle and you have someone handicapped in your home, call their corporate offices and talk to their EEO rep who will usually be happy to point out to senior management that they just opened themselves up to a major lawsuit.

redblack March 18, 2011 (11:45 am)

this wasn’t at the new low-income family housing complex, was it? i worked on that project…

feefeelarue March 18, 2011 (5:08 pm)

to redblack – this oomplex isn’t new. I do need to add props to the new management/owners. When they came onboard one of the 1st thimgs they did was upgrade/replace the sprinklers in the complex. If you listen to the fireman he said the sprinkler system had controlled the fire. Perhaps it would have been worse if they weren’t working properly! They have also sent numerous notices about storing junk on the patios and public spaces, and this dude had beaucoup junk on his. I’m just really happy that no one was hurt. A huge thank you to WSB because after seeing what was going on across from me, I immediately checked here for info. You guys are awesome!!

Nulu March 18, 2011 (5:47 pm)

As someone who spent six years as an ABC News photojournalist in Los Angeles, I frequently parked illegally and on sidewalks but only when necessary to do the job.
When you see news trucks with their masts up, they are preparing for a live shot. As such, wire cables are required to connect the truck to the camera position. Safety, practicality, the length of the cables and time constraints often demand this.
Parking and blocking someone’s driveway is not acceptable. If a news crew blocks you in you can demand that they allow access, contact the police that are already on the scene and place a call to the news director.

Sorry, comment time is over.