West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle traffic alert: Car-motorcycle crash on Alki Avenue

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:56 PM: Avoid the 1300 block of Alki Avenue SW (map) for a while – there’s an emergency response for what is described via radio as a car-motorcycle collision. While the initial callout was for a “6 per” medic response, indicating potential life-threatening injuries, we’re told a private ambulance is now on the way. So are we, and we’ll update with whatever we find out at the scene.

1:08 PM UPDATE: Per scanner – westbound Alki Avenue is now open at the scene; eastbound still closed.

1:20 PM UPDATE: At the scene – police confirm one person went to the hospital (we’re trying to get more details); the vehicles involved are a Jeep Cherokee and Yamaha motorcycle.

ADDED MONDAY EVENING: We heard back from Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore, who confirmed that the person taken to the hospital was the motorcycle rider, and was described as conscious and alert when transported.

Update: Search off Alki after ferry passenger reported seeing a body

7:17 PM: We have multiple reports of a search under way off the Washington State Ferry Wenatchee, in Elliott Bay north of Alki Beach, after a report of someone overboard. The U.S. Coast Guard is helping search. The ferry was headed to Bainbridge Island.

7:26 PM: Wenatchee is continuing on to Bainbridge. No official report on the fate of the person reported overboard.

11:26 PM: More information late tonight from the community-news website Inside Bainbridge: They report the search started after someone on the Wenatchee reported seeing a body in the water. Searchers couldn’t find it, though, and IB says the USCG stopped searching about two hours ago.

Update: 2-car crash on eastbound bridge

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
9:34 PM: Big response to the eastbound bridge, Spokane Street Viaduct section, for a “heavy rescue” call. One texter says it’s a rollover crash.

9:51 PM: Still not much information on this; commenters who passed the scene say it’s before the 99 exit. The eastbound bridge remains open.

10:46 PM: WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is back from checking out the crash aftermath. Two SUVs were on the outside shoulder by the time he got there (one is shown above). The exit to 99 was blocked at the time but the traffic camera now shows it, and the rest of the scene, clear. At this point we aren’t likely to have information about injuries, if any, until morning.

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Moore tells us that one car was on its side when SFD crews got to the two-vehicle crash scene, and, “We had to lift the occupants out of the cab of the overturned SUV. They did not have any significant injuries.”

Update: ‘High-speed’ rollover crash sends 4 to hospital; driver under investigation for DUI

3:48 AM: Multiple medic and fire units have responded to a crash on Harbor Lane, off Harbor Avenue, a few blocks west of the bridge. Four people were in the car, according to radio communications, and two were reported to be badly hurt. More to come.

3:57 AM: Radio communications say all four people were ejected from the car after a high-speed impact that also took out a tree before the vehicle rolled multiple times.

They’re all being taken to the hospital. A man believed to be in his mid-20s was described as the most seriously hurt patient; no ages have been mentioned for the other three. Police said over the radio that they would be closing Harbor Avenue.

4:10 AM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand is at the scene. The address has been updated to the 2700 block of Harbor Avenue (map). Patrick says the vehicle is in the north/westbound lanes (headed toward Alki), and confirms what we had heard via radio, that the car took out a tree. Police have closed that side of Harbor but the south/eastbound lanes, headed toward the bridge, remain open.

4:26 AM: SFD says all four people are in their 20s, two women, two men, all were ejected from the car. While the north/westbound lanes of Harbor remain closed, and the other side open, that side MIGHT close once the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad arrives to start doing its work, police at the scene told Patrick.

7:25 AM: The road should be open before long – the tow truck was reported to be on its way.

6:44 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter has just published a post about the crash, confirming that – as suggested in some of the comment discussion here over the course of the day – the 21-year-old driver is under investigation for driving under the influence.

Update: Pickup truck crashes into Westwood Village post office, 1 person hurt

1:57 PM: Big “heavy rescue” callout right now in the 2700 block of SW Trenton, and a texter (thank you!) tells us it’s a crash at the Westwood Village post office. (added) We’ve just arrived at the scene – looks like a pickup truck has hit the building to the left of the entrance. Avoid the Trenton entrance to WV – lots of emergency vehicles. More to come.

2:12 PM: One person is being checked out by medics. We’re trying to find out more about possible injuries. Just added a photo (above) from Natascha, showing the inside of the post office.

2:23 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore is here now so we should get updated information shortly. Adding a different angle of the scene, from Val – thanks to everyone who’s been sharing photos (we have two photographers here but all views appreciated!). Again, AVOID the Trenton entrance to the shopping center for now.

2:32 PM UPDATE: Moore says that the driver of the pickup was not hurt. The person who was being checked out by medics has cuts/bruises from being hit by collision debris. The concern now is that the truck hit a brick support column – so the building’s structural integrity has to be addressed. Obviously the post office is closed TBA – if you have USPS business, go to the one in The Junction (on California SW between Genesee and Oregon). Moore estimates about three dozen people were evacuated here after the crash, including employees.

(This photo and next by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
3:03 PM UPDATE: Added video of Moore’s briefing. He says that while the brick column posed a challenge for SFD to remove, it apparently does NOT leave the building structurally compromised. We’ll be checking with USPS on when they believe they’ll be able to reopen the branch.

3:33 PM UPDATE: Adding two photos by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli showing the aforementioned brick column.

3:55 PM UPDATE: We asked local USPS spokesperson Ernie Swanson about the branch’s status. He replied: “The retail lobby is closed for the remainder of today. At this time we do not know if it will be open tomorrow. The area where the Letter Carriers work was not damaged so there should be no delay in mail delivery.”

FRIDAY MORNING, 7:39 AM: The post-office-box and mail-drop lobby is open, and from inside that lobby, looking through the doors to the “retail lobby,” it looks all cleaned up and ready to reopen at 8:30 am as usual – we will go check again then to be sure. (Update: Yes, it is.)

West Seattle traffic alert: Crash closes Juneau between 36th and 37th

6:25 PM: If you’re wondering about a helicopter, it’s just TV again, checking out a crash at 36th and Juneau that was reported to involve a flipped vehicle. No major (if any) injuries reported – Seattle Fire closed out its presence quickly. We’re on the way over for a look; avoid the area in the meantime.

6:51 PM UPDATE: Not flipped, but certainly tipped, as you can see in our photo – a landscaping/hauler-type truck, with a trailer of tools behind it, most of the way up onto the sidewalk on the semi-steep slope of Juneau between 36th and 37th. That block remained closed off when we left a few minutes ago, as a tow truck worked to pull the truck off the sidewalk and away from the fence of an adjacent house.

Update: Chemical leak evacuates Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center; no one hurt; will reopen tomorrow

5:03 PM: Seattle Fire crews have evacuated Southwest Pool and Teen Life Center because of what was dispatched as a hazardous-materials situation.

5:08 PM UPDATE: It’s described on the scanner as a suspected chlorine leak. Traffic is also blocked off in the area to keep people away until crews have it under control, so avoid SW Thistle.

No word of any injuries at this point – medic crews are there but we’re not seeing any patients.

5:19 PM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick Sand confirms at the scene that it was a spill/leak of pool chlorine. Hazmat crews are in the building plan to test the air quality. And yes, this is why there’s at least two TV choppers overhead.

5:34 PM UPDATE: Fire crews report via radio communications that so far, they indeed do NOT have anyone with symptoms/injuries. The tank that had a leak/spill problem is described as at least 150 gallons. They’re still working to stabilize the situation.

5:48 PM UPDATE: Southwest Pool and Teen Life Center tells us all lessons and other activities for the rest of tonight are canceled. Too soon to tell about tomorrow. Meantime, Seattle Fire tells us that the chemical is not chlorine itself but is used to treat the pool water. Staffers smelled the leak, which apparently had been going on for a few hours before noticed, then called 911 and got out of the building. Again, SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore confirms, no injuries, no one requesting treatment. (added, here’s our video of his briefing)

SFD is likely to be on site at least a few hours because this kind of situation requires careful processing in the “better safe than sorry” mode. Thistle is still blocked off and buses are affected by this; Metro is trying to get them through the SWAC parking lot to reroute.

6:12 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire now says the building tests “clean.” Seattle Parks says it could reopen as soon as 7 pm but lessons are still canceled for the rest of tonight. Seattle Police have just announced (via scanner) that SW Thistle is reopening.

6:46 PM UPDATE: Matt Richardson from SW Pool sends word the pool will remain CLOSED TONIGHT, then will reopen tomorrow for normal operations. People whose lessons were canceled tonight will get credits on their accounts.

Deadly crash on southbound I-5 near West Seattle Bridge exit

(WSDOT traffic-camera image)
MIDNIGHT: A day that began with a deadly crash near the West Seattle Bridge ended with another one. Right now emergency crews are at the scene of a multiple-vehicle crash on southbound I-5, described as “near Tully’s,” which would mean near the West Seattle Bridge offramp – we’re not sure about the precise location yet. At least one death has been reported via radio communications, and at least three medic units have been summoned for survivors. More as we get it.

12:12 AM: Medics have said via radio that six people were involved – one dead, five hurt (at least three of them seriously).

1:29 AM: The two right lanes, and the 6th Avenue S. exit, remain blocked by the crash. No further details about the victims – we’re likely to get some info about ages, vehicles, etc., in a few hours.

ADDED: Seattle Fire photos of the crash scene have been added to the department’s Fire Lines website.

Update: Bicyclist killed in crash east of West Seattle low bridge

(UPDATED 9:58 PM with photo of ‘ghost bike’ memorial at the crash scene)

(Intersection of E. Marginal/Hanford around 9:40 am; victim was a short distance north of photo’s right edge)
8:19 AM: Just a few blocks northeast of the east end of the low bridge, a collision this morning has killed a bicycle rider, along the route between West Seattle and downtown. Via SPD Blotter, Seattle Police report:

Seattle Police and Fire responded to a fatality collision between a bicyclist and a semi-truck this morning at South Hanford and East Marginal Way South.

Witnesses called 911 at around 7:15 this morning informing first responders of the collision. Witnesses began giving the adult male cyclist CPR at the scene until Seattle Fire arrived, but the cyclist did not survive his injuries. Detectives from the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad (TCIS) are enroute to the location where they will process the scene and begin their investigation.

According to SDOT, East Marginal is blocked at the scene for two blocks to the north and to the south, as is Hanford for a block eastward. We’ll add more information to the story as we get it; it’s too early for any word on the rider’s identity.

8:32 AM UPDATE: KING 5 reporter Roberta Romero at the scene quotes witnesses as saying the bicycle hit the back of the semi-truck (update here). Meantime, in a tragic coincidence noted by commenter Lizben, today happens to be the first day of Bike to Work Month.

(Unmarked police car at scene around 9:40 am; bicycle is on road toward right side of photo)
9:32 AM UPDATE: We went to SODO in hopes of finding out a bit more – parked a few blocks away and co-publisher Patrick Sand walked to the scene. The Medical Examiner has just arrived, and that means, police say, the scene will likely be closed another hour or so.

(Semi-truck, stopped north of the crash scene)
10:24 AM UPDATE: Called SPD media relations to ask if they had any updated information yet such as the rider’s age – SFD had estimated “30s” in an early report. Det. Renée Witt says they won’t get that information until the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad clears the scene; she promises to update us when that’s available.

11:08 AM UPDATE: Police have just announced via radio that East Marginal is open again; they are clearing the scene. Another note, as Kathy pointed out in comments – the city Bicycle Advisory Board meets tonight, and this is bound to be discussed (location/time are on the SBAB home page).

4:25 PM UPDATE: No new official information so far. As pointed out in the ongoing comments discussion, The Seattle Times (WSB partner; paywalled link here) quotes a spokesperson for Mayor McGinn as saying the city will consider some quick safety improvements at the scene, perhaps striping.

7 PM: We are at the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board meeting and will publish a separate update later. The meeting began with a moment of silence for the still-not-publicly-identified bicyclist who was killed. SDOT’s Dongho Chang elaborated on the mentioned-earlier mayoral commitment, saying SDOT will report to the Mayor “within 30 days” about some actions that can be taken relatively quickly, though he had no timeline for then making them happen. Most of the meeting is about the project that’s been a big one for the board – the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan update; city reps say a draft should be out within a month.

9:58 PM UPDATE: Kathy Dunn, one of the West Seattle Bike Connections members who were also at the SBAB meeting, has shared this photo taken as she rode back to West Seattle tonight, past the scene of this morning’s crash:

8:51 THURSDAY MORNING: SPD Blotter has updated the crash report with some early findings, and has also reported that the victim was 54. We’re working on a separate followup including more on last night’s board meeting but in the meantime, here’s where to see the police update.

Update: Pickup truck driver hurt in Erskine Way crash

1:12 AM: A pickup truck went off the road and into a wall in front of a home along west/southbound Erskine Way west of The Junction, reports WSB’s Katie Meyer, who’s at the scene. She says the truck’s driver is injured and being loaded into Medic 32, which is there along with Engine 32 and police, blocking the road for now.

1:50 AM: Added two photos, both taken by Katie. No word so far on why the driver went off the road.

No major injuries reported in crash at 16th and Thistle

Thanks to Jason for the photo from 16th and Thistle. The call first went out as “automobile rescue,” but Seattle Fire responders were canceled shortly thereafter, since apparently everyone got out OK. No major inuries reported.

Car hits pole, veers off Delridge into Longfellow Creek ravine

This is NOT affecting traffic now, but might later when it’s time for repairs – a car hit a streetlight pole (above left) on southbound Delridge Way SW across from the Boren/K-5 STEM parking lot, and veered off the road, onto the slope leading down toward Longfellow Creek:

City Light‘s been notified – one of its employees actually called in the crash – we’ll check on the repair timetable later; here’s the pole’s damaged base:

Police hadn’t yet sorted out why the driver – who was not seriously hurt – hit the pole and went off the road.

Small fire in north Delridge neighborhood

If you’re wondering about a large Seattle Fire Department call-out in the 4000 block of 22nd SW, units responded to reports of light smoke from a residential basement. A “wall fire” was quickly extinguished. Christopher Boffoli checked it out for WSB and sent the photo below, reporting that the home owner was at the residence at the time and no injuries were reported.

Update: Cars collide, one flips, at 48th and Andover

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
8:19 AM: If you’ve seen a big emergency response go by, it’s for a “heavy rescue” call at 48th and Andover (map) – a car has flipped. More to come.

8:29 AM: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli reports from the scene that two cars were involved and both drivers are being taken to hospitals. The driver from the Prius that flipped was described via radio as 48 years old and conscious but reporting shoulder pain.

8:51 AM: Authorities say it appeared the Prius was headed southbound and hit on the passenger side – where its airbags deployed – by the eastbound Civic. Avoid the intersection for a while; the tow trucks hadn’t arrived as of our last scene check a short time ago.

Update: Man stabbed at 17th/Barton, suspect in custody

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
11:14 AM: A man has been stabbed six times in the 1700 block of SW Barton. More to come.

11:19 AM: Per SFD radio with medics, the victim is male and despite the half-dozen stab wounds, is conscious and alert. They’re taking him to Harborview Medical Center.

11:30 AM: The wounds are considered to be life-threatening, responders are saying.

11:53 PM: From WSB’s Christopher Boffoli at the scene: The victim is a 61-year-old man and a suspect is in custody, according to police, who describe the circumstances as an argument between friends.

About that canceled water-rescue callout: Kayaker OK

Yet another “just in case you were wondering” – and the inbox indicates some were: The big “water rescue” callout on Alki this past hour south of Alki Point turned out to be more or less a false alarm and was canceled fairly quickly – Christopher Boffoli checked it out for WSB and says the last medic unit left on scene (in his photo above) told him the call was for a kayaker that was briefly in trouble – fell out of the kayak but was dressed for the cold water and got to shore OK.

Fire Engines in High Point

If you’re wondering about a large Seattle Fire Department call-out in the 6300 block of High Point Drive SW, all units are being dismissed from what has now been reported via the scanner as “Food on the Stove.”

West Seattle Crime Watch: Shoe-store robbery reported

3:26 PM: Police are responding to a reported armed robbery at Westwood Village – initial information indicates it was at Payless Shoe Source on the south side of the shopping center. Scanner traffic says the weapon was a knife. Police are questioning a possible suspect. More to come.

3:38 PM: No arrest reported – the search continues.

3:56 PM: Another possible suspect – this time spotted on a bus – is being questioned. (And minutes later – a witness says no, that’s not him.)

Update: 2 men shot – 1 found on Avalon Way, 1 on Delridge Way

(Avalon Way photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
11:33 PM: Police and fire are at the scene of a shooting reported in the Charlestown/Avalon area of the Luna Park business district. We heard the first police call on the scanner – someone reporting possible gunshots or fireworks – then came the word someone had been shot, and after that, there was word of a silver car possibly speeding away from the scene. Initial description of the shooting victim sounded like multiple, potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds, with CPR being done. The victim is being taken to Harborview Medical Center. More to come.

11:43 PM: Police are searching the area.

Still no word of any suspect(s) in custody.

11:49 PM: From the scanner, more information on the possible car involved – gray or silver, windows with heavy tint, possibly a late 90s four door sedan.

11:51 PM: Now there is a second scene – police and fire responding to a report there might be another shooting victim in a car in the 5600 block of Delridge (map). We’re sending one crew that way. There is word the car at this scene might be the one that reportedly left the Avalon Way scene.

(Delridge Way photo by Patrick Sand)
MIDNIGHT: We have one crew at each scene. At Delridge (above), our crew says traffic is blocked at Findlay, on the south edge of the small business district there. The victim at this scene is being attended to in the middle of the street.

12:08 AM: Because this is suspected to have been an “exchange” of gunfire, police have been checking with area hospitals for any other possible victims, per scanner traffic. Meantime, the victim found on Delridge also is described as having multiple gunshot wounds, but has been stabilized.

Crime tape is now up across Delridge in the 5600 block.

12:42 AM: We still have crews at both scenes (Christopher Boffoli on Avalon, Patrick Sand on Delridge) but no new information – police are carefully searching both scenes.

SPD Blotter, meantime, has put up something, but it only mentions the first victim – with a bit of new information, describing him as 27 years old, with life-threatening injuries.

12:55 AM: A second SPD Blotter item is now up, saying that the two incidents have not definitively been linked (though what we’ve heard/seen at scenes and via radio suggested there wasn’t much doubt), and saying the Delridge victim is a 19-year-old man, with non-life-threatening injuries.

1:20 AM: CSI team members are at both scenes gathering evidence, our crews say.

3:09 AM: Adding more photos to the story from both scenes, including the one above, of a gun lying at the Avalon scene. No new information yet from police. We have a note from one person who was in the area where the first victim was found, and says, “I heard approximately 5 to 6 gunshots … I didn’t hear any voices prior to the gunshots, but heard a man yell ‘let’s go’ about ten seconds after the shots.” (That corroborates what we heard in early scanner traffic.)

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: No arrests reported so far.

Update: Tree hits car on Beach Drive north of Lowman

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:01 AM: Overnight crashes often involve cars hitting trees. This morning, we have a report of things happening the other way around – on Beach Drive north of Lowman Beach Park, Mark reports (while sharing the photo above), a tree has fallen onto a parked car. Police have been called. We’ll head downhill to check it out too, given the potential traffic problem if it’s not out of the way soon.

8 AM UPDATE: Beach Drive northbound is blocked just north of the three-way intersection by Lowman while crews work to remove the tree – this photo is from WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand:

No injuries reported.

Update: No injuries in flipped-pickup Highland Park crash

(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
4:45 PM: Sizable response to 12th and Cambridge (map) right now, where two cars are reported to have crashed, with one on its roof. There’s nobody trapped, per scanner, so they’ve scaled back what was a major “heavy rescue” response. More to come.

5:15 PM: A fast-responding tow truck already has righted the flipped pickup truck, reports WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, who has also learned at the scene that no one was hurt.

West Seattle traffic-alert: Truck-car trouble at 16th/Dawson

ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:45 AM: Thanks to the WSB’er who just texted us (206-293-6302 any time) that picture of truck vs. car at/near the curve by 16th/Dawson (location and map updated). It’s causing traffic trouble for vehicles including at least one Metro bus, we’re told. No word of injuries so far (no fire/medic callout, either); we’re headed to the scene to find out more.

12:20 PM UPDATE: The bus has gotten through. But the scene isn’t clear yet and it may be a while. Added the photo above, by co-publisher Patrick Sand.

1:24 PM UPDATE: Route 125 is back to normal, Metro has texted.

Update: Truck crash at 48th and Hudson, driver OK

(First two photos by WSB’s Katie Meyer)
1:04 AM: Most of the units are being canceled, but if you’re west of The Junction in the 48th/Hudson area, the initial response was for a “heavy rescue” call related to a crashed truck. First crews on the scene say the person in the truck got out OK, so there’s no need for “heavy rescue,” which usually means someone has to be cut out of wreckage.

1:30 AM: WSB’s Katie Meyer reports from the scene that the driver is indeed OK; the truck is on its side against a hedge. This is an intersection with a traffic circle, since 48th SW otherwise is a long straightaway – through residential neighborhoods – from Seaview to Genesee (and this intersection also is where you can head west toward Jacobsen for access to Beach Drive). We’re adding a photo from neighbor David atop the story for starters. Katie, meantime, says that the intersection is not blocked, so late-night drivers can still get to/through that area.

2:07 AM: Added Katie’s photos; neighbor David sent new ones as the wreckage was handled by a tow crew, so that’s what you see over this paragraph. Katie was told at the scene that it did not appear to be a high-speed crash – maybe 30 to 40 mph, though that’s fast enough at an intersection with a traffic circle.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON P.S. This has been classified as a DUI investigation.

Update: Close call in Highland Park, one person hurt

12:50 PM: As several people texted and e-mailed to report, a TV chopper was over Highland Park for a little while this morning and we are pretty sure this was why – this car went up on the lawn of a home in the 8100 block of 9th SW. We’re still checking on the circumstances with police and fire – it didn’t originally catch our attention because it was a simple call on the SFD log without even a medic unit – but so far we understand one person was hurt, not major injuries, transported by private ambulance.

1:17 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore says the car was reported to have gone onto the lawn after hitting a parked car, and the 46-year-old driver was in stable condition when taken to the hospital. One person was inside the house, he says, but wasn’t hurt.

Update: Police-fire response south of The Junction

1:02 PM: In case you are seeing the big police/fire response south of The Junction, near Rite-Aid, in the 4300 block of SW Hudson – police are dealing with a reported shooting, possibly self-inflicted. The call is minutes old; more to come.

1:10 PM: Police are still trying to figure out what’s going on – if the call was for real, and if so, what the caller’s status is. Per the scanner (we have a crew en route) they were closing some nearby streets as a precaution.

1:17 PM: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand reports from the scene that a patient has been brought out of the house, and is being moved to an aid unit. No word on the circumstances – that’ll take a while for police to sort out – or the man’s condition.

1:26 PM: The fire units are being dismissed except for Medic 32, which will take the man to Harborview Medical Center. The street closures should be cleared fairly soon too, since police have established at this point that the situation is stable and there’s no danger. Lt. Ron Smith of the Southwest Precinct is on scene and our crew is talking with him now to see what else they know.

1:32 PM: According to Lt. Smith: The man called 911 twice, first threatening self-harm, then saying he had shot himself. When officers got to the door, he let them in, but had an obvious gunshot wound and he is now en route to the hospital.

*Our customary reminder: If you or someone you know is thinking or talking about suicide – Crisis Clinic is available 24/7 – 206-461-3222.

Woman rescued from water at West Seattle marina

If you wondered what police and fire were doing at Harbor Island Marina this morning: A “water rescue” call went out around quarter past 7. The Fire Department had already cleared the scene by the time we got there, but police (as shown in our photo) were checking out a sailboat. From both SPD and SFD, we cobbled together these details: A woman fell into the water and needed help getting out. She was spotted, but would-be citizen rescuer(s) had trouble getting to her because of locked access to the docks. Kyle Moore from SFD says a “man in a small skiff rescued her out of the water and brought her to shore. When Engine Company 36 arrived, the female patient was being warmed up in the back of an SPD car. Firefighters conducted a medical evaluation. AMR transported her to (Harborview Medical Center) as a precaution due to spending approximately 20 minutes in the water.”

Update: Fire response in 4100 block of California SW

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
10:44 PM: Just north of The Junction, a major fire response is heading to the building at 4110 California SW. More shortly.

10:50 PM UPDATE: Per scanner, no fire, some kind of dryer problem. Most of the crews are being dismissed.

10:56 PM UPDATE: Confirmed by our crews on scene.