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UPDATE: Briefly big SFD response on 20th SW

October 16, 2023 11:43 pm
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

11:43 PM: Seattle Fire has a sizable response in the 9200 block of 20th SW for what’s described as a fire in a “vacant building.”

11:46 PM: The fire was apparently confined to the fireplace, and only four of the originally dispatched ~20 units are still on scene.

11:53 PM: Side note, the property to which this call is logged has a demolition permit and a plan for six townhouses.

11:59 PM: The call is closed.

UPDATE: SFD response at Westwood Village

October 15, 2023 10:06 pm
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | Westwood

10:06 PM: SFD has sent several crews to Westwood Village for what’s reported as an “exterior fire” at the Target loading dock They’re checking to see if it’s having any effects inside the store.

10:31 PM: This did not turn out to be major and two of the four units were dismissed quickly, with only one still on the scene, We’ll follow up with SFD.

ADDED: Here’s what SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo told us: “Crews responded to a rubbish fire outside of a retail strip mall. A bystander was able to knock down the fire with an extinguisher, then our firefighters fully extinguished it. The fire did not extend to any nearby buildings, and no injuries were reported.”

UPDATE: Fire in vacant Highland Park house on redevelopment site

7:47 AM: SFD is just arriving at what’s described as a vacant building where a fire is burning, at 9th/Henderson. Updates to come.

7:50 AM: Firefighters say this is a vacant house and the fire appears to have originated in the basement.

7:55 AM: Both lanes of 9th SW are blocked by the response.

8:04 AM: They’ve “knocked down” the fire enough to search inside the house. So far they haven’t found any signs of the fire extending beyond what they’ve already extinguished.

(Added: WSB photo)

8:10 AM: Fire’s out. Firefighters tell us at the scene that their investigator is on the way to find out what happened. No one was in the house when firefighters arrived, and so no injuries are reported. Photo added. Some SFD units are being dismissed.

(Added: Photo by Tim Durkan)

8:26 AM: Records show the house is on a large lot – 12,000+ square feet – that sold to an LLC last year for $1.1 million. There’s a redevelopment proposal making its way through the city system, for 12 townhouses. (added) Records show the demolition permit was issued months ago.

8:48 PM: Police just told dispatch that 9th is open again.

ADDED: We followed up with SFD, Here’s what spokesperson David Cuerpo told us: “Firefighters extinguished a basement fire in a vacant residential building. No injuries were reported. Fire investigators ruled the incident as incendiary (intentionally set) and forwarded their findings to SPD.”

UPDATE: Fire response in Arbor Heights

10:24 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” in the 10400 block of 41st SW in Arbor Heights. We’re on our way to find out more.

(Added: WSB photo)

10:40 PM: Our photographer just talked to SFD at the scene. This was a fire in a shed behind a house. It’s out now. No one hurt. Cause not yet known – the investigator’s on the way.

UPDATE: Fire response in 3400 block 37th SW

September 20, 2023 6:25 am
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

6:25 AM: SFD has a “full response” on scene in the 3400 block of 37th SW (vicinity map). Updates to come.

6:30 AM: Thanks to William for the photo above. He says this is an apartment building and firefighters pulled out a “burning mattress.”

6:50 AM: The response is down to a few units. We have a crew there checking on extent of damage and whether anyone was hurt.

(WSB photos from here)

7 AM: SFD tells us damage was confined mostly to the bed, and that no one was hurt.

ADDED THURSDAY: SFD tells us the fire’s cause was ruled “undetermined.”

Fire in Fauntleroy Park, ‘not a campfire’

(WSB photo)

Thanks for the tips about a Seattle Fire response on the Arbor Heights side of Fauntleroy Park this morning. Tom Trulin sent the photo below, taken by Karen, showing firefighters at the scene in the park:

We asked SFD about the park fire; spokesperson Kristin Hanson says, “This was a brush fire that encompassed an area of approximately 10 ft x 10 ft. The cause was undetermined.” Meantime, Lynne emailed us to say she was the person who discovered and reported the fire:

I stumbled upon a small fire in Fauntleroy Woods at 8:20 this morning while walking my dog. I was worried about approaching it, fearing an aggressive person, but I couldn’t leave it to burn. After calling out several times, I realized no one was nearby. It was burning just off a less used trail at the base of a big pine tree. A fern and brush were in flames. I tried putting it out with the only thing I had, dirt filled with pine needles, which worked as well as you’d think, snuffled with flames popping up again. I got most of the flames out by stomping on it and pulling branches away, but flames kept appearing and there were too many sparks that would easily reignite. I had already called 911 and struggled through giving them a location. Address unknown and deep in the park, it was hard to figure out what to tell them. I ran up the hill as I heard sirens approaching and ran into my friend as I watched the fire truck go down the wrong road. He chased them down and fortunately we got them to the right location. They put out the obvious fire and sparks and came back up for more water while a second truck showed up. They were still there when I left. Neighbors came and told me this is the 2nd or 3rd fire recently in the woods at the base of big trees. There was talk of possibly an arsonist. This fire was not a campfire. There was no reason for a fire being there or natural causes. Definitely looked human induced for no reason. Makes me nervous about our beloved woods.

SFD did not send its investigator but Hanson is checking whether they’ve been tracking any trends in the area. Fauntleroy Park has multiple potential addresses, so it’s hard to search a log for previous calls, but we did get email on August 19th from an area resident who discovered evidence of a then-recent small fire that “looked like a box was burned, on a main trail.”

POWER PROBLEMS: 300+ customers in Puget Ridge area out; vault fire on West Marginal

7:29 PM: Thanks for the tips. Above is a screengrab of the Seattle City Light map showing 317 customers lost power about 10 minutes ago, mostly in the Puget Ridge area. No obvious cause yet. Let us know if you see SCL crews!

7:51 PM: We don’t know yet if it’s related but SFD is responding to a vault fire in the 6700 block of West Marginal [map]. Firefighters report “light smoke coming from an underground vault” and SFD says via Twitter/X: “Firefighters are establishing a 300-foot safety perimeter as a precaution and to protect nearby structures.” … The outage map has, since the start, included two spots off West Marginal, including one in the area of the vault fire, so that might be an indication.

8:05 PM: They’re dismissing most of the units from the vault-fire call.

9:19 PM: Power’s restored to the 300+ who were out.

UPDATE: Brush fire southwest of 1st Avenue South Bridge

1:35 PM: Thanks for the tips. Some traffic interruptions continue on southbound 99 just south of the 1st Avenue South Bridge, and near Highland Park Way/2nd SW, because of what’s logged as a brush-fire response. Avoid the area for a while.

2:33 PM: Officers have just told dispatch that they’re reopening northbound West Marginal at the scene.

2:43 PM: And now they’re reopening everything else that was closed.

ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Readers wondered if this was related to an encampment, as some other nearby fires have been. According to SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo, who spoke with crews who were on scene, “There was not sufficient evidence that this brush fire was related to an encampment. The brush fire involved an area approx. half an acre in size. No injuries were reported.”

UPDATE: Fire closes ramp to Highway 509

(Reader photos sent by Julie)

3:28 PM: Texters say at least one of the ramps to 509 at the end of the Roxbury corridor is closed because of that fire. SFD calls it a “brush fire” so far and says it’s affecting the ramp to northbound 509 at Cloverdale.

4:10 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and the last two engines on scene will be wrapping up their work.

9 PM: We asked SFD about what firefighters found. Spokesperson David Cuerpo replied, “I spoke to the crews and they confirmed fires occurred within encampments in two separate areas on opposite sides of SR509. The fires are extinguished, and no occupants were found. One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was relieved for the day.”

READER REPORT: Another fireworks fire fought by neighbors

As happened in Gatewood and in North Admiral, neighbors sprang into action Sunday night to fight an apparent fireworks-sparked fire in South Delridge.

(Added: Photo posted in comments by Matt)

A reader texted us this report of the story behind an SFD callout around 8:30 pm Sunday:

(There) was a fire by 15th SW and SW Cambridge. Lots of smoke and Fire Dept wasn’t on scene yet. Was heading home from Proletariat Pizza and saw all the smoke that was stopping traffic on Roxbury. A neighbor was using a hose on the south side and I grabbed the hose from the house on the north side neighbor and we put water on the fire until firefighters arrived. Those guys are awesome! Clearly caused by a fireworks mortar flipping sideways pointed at the trees. The first person getting water on the fire definitely saved the house and maybe the adjoining houses. Thanks, buddy!

Neighbors’ fast action stops North Admiral post-explosion fire from spreading

What happened near 46th/Massachusetts in North Admiral around midnight sounds similar to what happened near 41st/Portland in Gatewood earlier this week. Terry sent photos and a note thanking neighbors for their heroism:

Big THANK YOU to all our neighbors in North Admiral who called 911 shortly before midnight last night and woke me and my husband to alert us about the fire on our property. There apparently was a loud explosion prior to the fire. Looking for the woman who turned on our garden hose and started to try to put out the flames before we were able to get out of the house – my husband took the hose from you but we were in such shock we were not able to properly thank you before you left. Kudos to the quick response from Seattle Fire and Police – the only damage appears to be to our landscaping.

Fire at Westcrest Park

Thanks to everyone who sent photos from what Seattle Fire dispatched as a “brush fire” sweeping across a slope at Westcrest Park about an hour ago. SFD sent Engine 11, which was on scene for about 20 minutes.

No injuries reported, and no word on the cause – SFD did not send its investigator – but it’s a reminder of just how dry things are right now.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen and burned Souls, Gatewood explosive fires, weekend gunfire

Two more Kia Souls top this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:

STOLEN SOUL: Trent just moved here and his red Soul was stolen last night in High Point, near 35th/Juneau.

Plate is (corrected) RWK2780. SPD incident # is 23-201757.

BURNED-LIKELY-STOLEN SOUL: Thanks for the tips and photos this morning. SFD and SPD responded to the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot around 4:15 am today after reports of a Soul engulfed in flames. A few hours later, what was left of it was towed (not likely Trent’s car, as this one is white):

According to archived emergency-radio exchanges, no one was there when officers and firefighters arrived. SFD didn’t send its investigator and we have yet to find an incident number for the police response, so there’s no additional information so far.

GATEWOOD EXPLOSIVE FIRES: One reader asked about an explosion and SFD response last night near 41st/Portland in Gatewood. This reader report we just received answers the question:

Around 11 pm Sunday (yesterday) night, a car driving south on 41st (from Holden towards Portland) stopped at the intersection of 41st and Portland and tossed a(n) firework/explosive out of their car. It produced a very loud bang and an impressive flash. I was in the back part of my house and saw the flash with the blinds and curtains closed.

The explosion was large enough to start fires on lawns on both the north and south side of Portland. There were several fires on my lawn and one across the street.. My neighbors and I were able to get them all out before SFD arrived.

A neighbor with a doorbell device recorded the car drive by their house, stop at the intersection of 41st and Portland and shows the car drive by and the actual blast. You can see sparks for a few seconds before the big blast.

We didn’t find any debris, so not sure exactly what it was.

ADDED: Here’s security video on which you can see/hear the explosion:

WEEKEND GUNFIRE: Police summaries from the weekend include a brief mention of one confirmed gunfire incident in West Seattle – police found “evidence of a shooting” (which usually means shell casings; no victims reported) in the 5600 block of 26th SW after 911 calls around 9:40 pm Saturday night. If you have any information, 23-200285 is the report #.

UPDATE: Car fire on Alki

10:35 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo of a car fire on Alki, between Duke’s and Natalie’s, this past half-hour. No info yet on the circumstances, but it’s out, and there’s no indication of serious injuries. We’re following up with SFD.

10:57 PM: Thanks to Angelo for the photo added above. Meantime, another witness emailed us this report, saying the car “Was in front of me heading West on Alki Ave. Was leaking a ton of gas. It finally slowed and turned left near the burger place then it seemed like it was going to stall and then it sputtered like it needed oxygen. Was blocking both lanes. Then out of nowhere flames came up from under all 3 sides (couldn’t see the front). And a trail of fire following the leaking gas on the pavement behind it started to head back to my car. Had to drive through the flames to get safely around it. Everyone on the sidewalk started running.”

ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: SFD confirms no one was injured and has no other info as the fire wasn’t suspicious and therefore the investigator wasn’t called out.

VIDEO: ‘Encampment fire’ response in southeast West Seattle

4:36 PM: Thanks to Kelsey for the video. If you saw the billowing dark smoke in southeast West Seattle earlier this afternoon – that’s the source, near the 1st/Cloverdale Highway 509 interchange for West Seattle and South Park. SFD dispatched this as an “encampment fire” response; the last unit left around 4:06 pm, just under an hour after the initial dispatch. We’re checking with SFD for any additional information.

5:23 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB, “Our firefighters extinguished an encampment fire where multiple tents or tarps were involved. No injuries were reported.”

READER REPORT: One more ‘brush fire,’ for the record

Ethan sent the photo and report:

There was a fire at Walt Hundley Playfield this evening, almost certainly caused by fireworks. Saw your coverage of the fire by the pond down the street and figured you should know about this one too.

So far, the Real-Time 911 log for today has, citywide, 22 “brush fire” notations, 6 “rubbish fire” notations, 5 “bark fire” notations, and 2 “dumpster fire” notations. Seattle residential fires believed to have been caused by people using fireworks include the one last night in Arbor Heights as well as one Sunday in the Olympic Hills neighborhood.

UPDATE: People setting off fireworks blamed for High Point fire that burned close to homes

3:25 PM: Another brush-fire response – and this time it’s big enough that Seattle Fire has just upgraded it to “brush fire major.” It was described as at least 30 feet by 40 feet, in the 5900 block of High Point Drive. It’s near the pond, firefighters are telling dispatch.

3:30 PM: Added the photo above, from Erik O, who says this was sparked by “a large firework.”

3:34 PM: They’re getting a handle on it, so dismissing some of the response. Side note – we covered a similar fire in this spot, this time of year, eight years ago.

3:45 PM: If you’re in the area and noticing a helicopter, that’s just the helicopter that local TV stations share.

4:45 PM: The fire is extinguished but burned perilously close to homes, as photos shared by commenters show. (And the one added above, from Tori.) We’re there checking into the aftermath too.

4:58 PM: The charred slope is extensive – that’s the best we could do to show how extensive.

FOURTH OF JULY 2023: Hectic night for emergency responders, including Arbor Heights fire

10:44 PM: Tonight, for SFD, “brush fire” is the catch-all classification for many fireworks-caused (or likely-fireworks-caused) fires. Last year on the 4th of July, the Real-Time 911 log (archived here) had one “brush fire” call. So far today/tonight (live log here), citywide, there are 34. Some were reported as tree fires, some as shrub fires, some as lawn fires. Some are park fires – we’ve heard Hamilton Viewpoint and Westcrest Park mentioned. Firefighters responding to one at 30th/Cambridge pleaded with the dispatcher for police help, saying they were dealing with people “who refuse to stop setting off fireworks.”

Some police are tied up with managing the Alki crowd – we counted 7 cars between the Bathhouse and Don Armeni before sunset, and right now they’re dealing with routing traffic out of Alki, since fireworks-watchers will be leaving, and the beach is technically closed for the night. Expect some temporary road closures if you have to head that way.

More as-it-happens notes as the night goes on.

11:07 PM: Next “brush fire” response – Solstice Park (whether the tennis courts or P-patch, we haven’t heard). … Another frequently used classification on the 4th is “rubbish fire” – 11 so far citywide tonight. One of those is reported right now in a trash receptacle near the Lincoln Park south lot. … Another brush fire at 18th/Henderson.

11:47 PM: Possible residential fire near 35th and 104th in Arbor Heights. … Texter says “mostly garage.” … First firefighters on scene say it’s a car fire “with exposure’ (to a structure) … Adding texted photo from Colby Blanton:

11:56 PM: SFD says the fire is under control. … The response is being reduced. They’re calling in the SFD investigator to determine how it started.

12:46 AM: Dispatchers have been trying for more than half an hour to get an officer to an assault report involving someone “deliberately” injured by fireworks. One officer was just about to go – and then had to be diverted for a report of someone seen firing a gun on 15th SW.

1:02 AM: Somebody finally became available for the assault call. … Fire calls have slowed down but citywide there’s still been nine calls classified brush, rubbish, or dumpster fire.

1:17 AM: Next fire call, a “brush fire” between West Seattle Stadium and the golf course. … A response in Riverview, at 11th/Webster, is NOT for fireworks/fire, but rather a vehicle collision.

1:29 AM: “Brush fire” in the parking lot of Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), “near a light pole.”

2:18 AM: Nothing since then, though we’re still hearing scattered detonations.

2:34 AM: For a different view (literally) of some of tonight’s West Seattle fireworks, check out this drone video that Ken tweeted at us (featuring one serious aerial display starting around 3:30 in).

ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: SFD says the fire in Arbor Heights was accidental, “likely caused by fireworks,” with damage estimated at $85,000.

FOURTH OF JULY 2023: Fire danger high

As mentioned in our holiday lineup, firefighters have been busy. This morning we received two reader reports – first from Rebecca:

Darwin and I were out early to monitor the Cooper’s Hawks nest in Fauntleroy Park and came upon a fire in the base of a large Douglas Fir tree. We called 911, and firefighters from Station 37 quickly arrived to put out the fire. Initially, they brought in two extinguishers, but detected several hot spots in the trunk, so hauled in nearly 1100 ft of firehose from their rig parked at the southernmost entrance to the park.

We are so thankful for their service. Station 37 rocks! A good reminder to not only stay safe on this Independence Day, but to remain vigilant, and alert to your surroundings. A fire in any one of our parks would be truly devastating.

Whether fireworks were suspected or something else, we don’t know – we were away from the desk at the time of the callout. But the fire that Sky emailed about was definitely fireworks-related, one of the calls we heard dispatched late last night:

Last night around 10:30, we witnessed a group of teenagers aiming fireworks at one another in the street at 11th Ave SW and Austin. Initially I was concerned about the potential for then to injure themselves, but when their fireworks caught the grass on fire next to the home of our elderly neighbors I realized how easily we could see a house fire this week.

My wife and another neighbor used our fire extinguisher to put out the fire while I was on the phone with emergency services.

At the end of the block, Riverview Playfield is a hotspot every year for amateur fireworks. We need a police presence there to deter more of these same problems tonight.

The wind is supposed to pick up a bit later today, so this isn’t just about fireworks safety – be careful with grilling, outdoor fire pits, etc.

UPDATE: Construction-site arson at 18th/Roxbury, second fire there in 11 months

1:33 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to 18th and Roxbury. Updates to come.

1:39 AM: Arriving units report flames from the first floor of a three-story building.

1:42 AM: SFD describes the building as an under-construction townhouse.

1:46 AM: The fire is reported to be under control, an “exterior fire.” Meantime, we don’t know if it’s the same site, but there was a fire at under-construction townhouses in that same area last July.

1:50 AM: They’ve told dispatch that traffic is closed westbound on Roxbury starting at 17th.

2:20 AM: The fire’s out and no injuries are reported. SPD and SFD are investigating whether it was a set fire.

(WSB photo)

10:24 AM: We just went over to the site (including the photographer who covered last year’s fire). This fire was in the northeast building on the site; last July’s fire (linked above) was in the southeast building.

11:27 AM: SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond tells WSB, “Fire investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set and has been referred to Seattle Police Arson and Bomb Squad.”

UPDATE: 45th/Findlay garage fire ruled ‘accidental’

1:57 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” for a possible house fire at 45th/Findlay. The initial report is “garage on fire adjacent to the house, possible house involvement as well.”

2:02 AM: First unit on scene confirms it’s a “working fire.”

2:18 AM: Thanks to Janet for the photo. Firefighters are still working on the garage fire. No report of any injuries so far. Some units are being dismissed.

2:45 PM: We asked SFD about the cause. Response: “Fire investigators determined that this was an accidental fire. The amount loss was about $50,000.” The fire was sparked by oily rags, which can self-combust.

UPDATE: Seattle Fire ‘full response’ for 9000 block 18th SW

1:25 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to a building in the 9000 block of 18th SW [vicinity map]. 911 callers reported seeing flames. Updates to come.

1:28 AM: First arriving units confirm it’s a “working fire.” SFD describes it as a “vacant building.”

1:35 AM: Firefighters have told dispatch it looks like the fire “started on the outside.” City records show the house, sold after foreclosure last fall, has been the subject of multiple “vacant building” violations, most recently last month.

1:42 AM: They’ve declared the fire “tapped” (out).

1:52 AM: No report of injuries. Some responders are being cleared to leave.

UPDATE: Basement fire at house on Pigeon Point (added: cause, damage info)

5:56 PM: Seattle Fire has a full response arriving at what firefighters described to dispatch as a basement fire in a house in the 3600 block of 22nd SW on Pigeon Point [map]. Updates to come.

6:01 PM: Firefighters tell dispatch they have the fire under control. They’ve searched the house to be sure no one was inside. No word of any injuries so far.

6:13 PM: Firefighters have declared the fire “tapped” (out).

6:21 PM: As we finally arrive from the other end of the peninsula, firefighters are wrapping up. Adding photos.

6:26 PM: We talked to incident command at the scene. No one was home, no one hurt. The fire was confined to one room in the basement. SFD’s investigator is on the way to determine how it started.

ADDED WEDNESDAY: SFD tells WSB, “The fire was ruled accidental. Caused by an overheated extension cord that was plugged into a portable heater.”