Update: Tanker-truck engine catches fire on Harbor Island

1:03 PM: If you’ve seen smoke and/or the big Seattle Fire response – a tanker truck caught fire in the 2500 block of 11th SW on Harbor Island. SFD says the fire was in the truck’s engine and did NOT spread to its tank(s). Smoke was visible for some distance for a while – thanks to Creighton for the photo.

2:12 PM: From SFD via Twitter:

Investigator searching for cause of semi truck engine fire on harbor island. Tanks of truck empty pic.twitter.com/86i8ncgwbB

— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) July 13, 2014

3:05 PM: And an update:

Cause of Harbor Island semi tractor fire was most likely electrical malfunction in engine. Damage estimate $200k pic.twitter.com/cUUz5WWe0F

— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) July 13, 2014

MONDAY AFTERNOON POSTSCRIPT: Noted in the comment discussion – the firefighting wasn’t over yet when we published the first paragraph – the fire spread to tanks later, explains SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore: “When the first engine arrived the flames had not spread to the tanker. By the time we extinguished the fire the tank did burn. The tanks were empty and there wasn’t any fuel in them.”

dsa July 13, 2014 (9:00 pm)

The front of that tank looks like it’s been burned and melted or blown away.

DiverLaura July 14, 2014 (2:03 am)

Agree with dsa, looks like the fire made it past the engine and well into the tank. hopeful was indeed empty (and not discharged combined with fire suppressant into the Duwamish)

wetone July 14, 2014 (10:28 am)

Boy they got lucky on that one. Don’t get the SFD saying it didn’t spread to tank as it is clearly melted open. Could of lit tank farm and Harbor Island up very easily. Definitely needs to be investigated. Surprised tanker trucks aren’t required to have an onboard fire suppression system.

WSB July 14, 2014 (10:40 am)

I’m following up with SFD today but please understand that as with all breaking news, information changes, and if you read our site regularly or any place else that covers breaking news incrementally, you know that. What SFD gets changes too – see the Saturday night rooftop fire – it really did start as a “full response” callout, then scaled back, then increased back to full response.

dsa July 14, 2014 (11:19 am)

Are any words from the truck driver available?

WSB July 14, 2014 (11:21 am)

Not unless s/he finds this item and comments.
- WSB July 14, 2014 (3:02 pm)
  
  Here’s the update from Kyle @ SFD: “When the first engine arrived the flames had not spread to the tanker. By the time we extinguished the fire the tank did burn. The tanks were empty and there wasn’t any fuel in them.”

David French July 17, 2014 (2:12 am)

The trailers were both empty. Those tanks are aluminum, so they will melt in the intense heat. What little bit of residual fuel that might have been present would have evaporated in the heat.

Sorry, comment time is over.