Update: Triplex fire in 7300 block of Fauntleroy; firefighter hurt

On our way to a “fire in building” call at 7313 Fauntleroy Way (map). 5:08 AM: According to the scanner, the building’s a triplex. Fauntleroy is blocked because of the fire response – that’s significant for traffic to and from the ferry dock, which will have to detour. Everyone is reported to have gotten out of the building OK. 5:21 AM: The fire is under control; it’s in the “void space” between the first and second floors of the building, confirms SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen, who’s now at the scene and confirms everyone’s out OK, nobody hurt. We’re adding a cameraphone photo. 5:31 AM UPDATE: One firefighter suffered minor injuries and will be taken to the hospital. The fire’s now been declared “tapped.” 5:37 AM: Some of the units are pulling out. Not sure how much longer Fauntleroy will be blocked. By the way, if you’re hearing sirens near Alki, separate incident – a few crews are on the way to check out a report of light smoke and detectors going off in the 3400 block of 60th. (Update: “Nothing visible” when they got there.) 6:09 AM: Confirmed, no fire there. Back to the Fauntleroy fire, here’s video of the smoke we saw after arriving at the scene:

Via Facebook, Robert says traffic is starting to get through at the scene. We’ll be heading down the hill to check on that momentarily. 6:37 AM: Fauntleroy Way has officially reopened in both directions.

9:15 AM UPDATE: Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen says investigators have ruled the fire accidental due to overheated electrical wiring. Damage is put at $250,000. Here’s a picture taken at first light this morning.

1:21 PM: Here’s how SFD summarized the fire on its Fireline site.

13 Replies to "Update: Triplex fire in 7300 block of Fauntleroy; firefighter hurt"

  • eigewijs December 1, 2009 (5:10 am)

    Is that what all the sirens are about?

  • WSB December 1, 2009 (5:13 am)

    Yup. Huge response as is required for a building fire – so lots of units, then they pull back as appropriate.

  • bb December 1, 2009 (5:14 am)

    THANKS! i take the ferry, so this is helpful.

  • hollyplace December 1, 2009 (5:15 am)

    Must be, there has been quite a string of engines heading down Fauntleroy below the Morgan Junction. I hope everyone is okay. Another one just went by at 5:15.

  • RR December 1, 2009 (5:29 am)

    Yeah a Building fire- sirins were loud! everyone was ok, though.
    FYI-
    http://www.Public911.com is real time and you can listen to the Police broadcasts on scene as well. It shows 911 calls in the area as soon as called in. Pretty cool to check out.

  • WSB December 1, 2009 (5:54 am)

    We prefer the source that site and others pull from:
    http://www2.cityofseattle.net/fire/realTime911/getRecsForDatePub.asp?action=Today&incDate=&rad1=des
    .
    Auto-refreshes too. But no, not everyone was OK, as we learned while covering the fire at the scene (and have included in our story) – a firefighter was hurt and has been taken to the hospital … TR

  • Donuts for all December 1, 2009 (8:37 am)

    my only request – when you detour through unfamiliar dark streets please don’t drive so damn fast! You, in the big white pickup, nearly hit me as I was clearing my car’s windows. I live on a street one block long and it is narrow – you didn’t need to see if you could get to 35mph by the block end.

    BTW – you didn’t get there any sooner did ya????

  • cathyw December 1, 2009 (8:59 am)

    Was just getting into my car in Alki this am as the ladder truck was coming down the hill. Almost followed it, but decided to go to yoga instead. Glad it was no big deal. Thanks for the info.

  • WSB December 1, 2009 (1:25 pm)

    Donuts, just to clarify, although I don’t *think* you meant to sound as if you were addressing us … we don’t have a big white pickup. Driving slower on side streets is an important reminder any time. I have been guilty of taking the back path to Alki down 48th in a spot-news situation and having to remind myself to take it down to 25 (or less) – so many Seattle streets are narrow and still have parking on both sides (I always wonder, what WERE they thinking way back when it was laid out that way? cars were bigger in the early decades!) – TR

  • Donuts for all December 1, 2009 (2:51 pm)

    No – it was all drivers (the universal you)detouring through unfamiliar neighborhoods with emphasis on the big white pickup that was especially bad. I counted over 30 cars and motorcyles in 5 minutes (ferry had just let out) performing this high rate of speed detour.

  • Donuts for all December 1, 2009 (2:52 pm)

    p.s. the cars may have been bigger years ago but there were far fewer therefore more parking space available.

  • teri luckenbaugh December 1, 2009 (5:53 pm)

    We live next nest door to Fauntleroy fire and alerted the occupants–the SFD was awesome !! Kudos to them–they were organized and really worked as a team…fire is scarey and it is good toknow they are they there for us !

  • LAP December 1, 2009 (8:52 pm)

    maybe this was why my bus was late this morning! the driver did not mention the fire. happy to hear everyone got out.

Sorry, comment time is over.