Update: Small fire in Admiral Safeway deli is out, store’s open

(Photo added 3:19 pm – police/fire presence behind the store)
On our way to a “fire in building” callout at 2622 California SW, which is the Admiral Safeway. 3 PM UPDATE: We’re still en route but via Twitter, @mamamilkers says it’s a deli fire, and that as of a few minutes ago, the store had not been evacuated. Here’s a photo she tweeted. 3:07 PM UPDATE: We’re just arriving – still lots of fire and police. Another update from @mamamilkers on Twitter – she says, “We left when there were flames and smoke billowing out of the stove in the deli.” 3:12 PM: We’re at the store. The deli’s closed and fire crews are inside but there’s no exterior sign of fire and the store remains open – people are still shopping. The incident commander tells us it involved “a problem in one of the fryers.” No injuries reported, and the fire’s out; crews are packing up to leave.

glocson February 7, 2010 (2:59 pm)

Just looked at live 911!! What’s up???

WSB February 7, 2010 (3:05 pm)

Patrick should be there shortly, but as I added to the story, @mamamilkers has tweeted from there that it’s a deli fire and that people had not been evacuated.

JanS February 7, 2010 (3:03 pm)

they burned the egg rolls again? extra crispy fried chicken? I live across the street, doesn’t seem like there’s a rush to put anything out, so must not be much.

glocson February 7, 2010 (3:19 pm)

I know they wanted to remodel……

WSB February 7, 2010 (3:21 pm)

Well, that’s still in the works. But as we updated above, store’s still open, deli’s closed, so no big deal. Luckily. Of ALL times! With the last-minute pre-game crowd! Glad all’s well.

Gina February 7, 2010 (3:29 pm)

Will they change the oil?

sandy doherty February 7, 2010 (3:45 pm)

I was at the deli when this fire started. It is amazing to me that no one in the deli could find a fire extinguisher IN the deli !!! Someone had to run to the customer service desk to get one.

The smoke was black and quickly filling up that side of the store. Kudos to the woman who helped the elderly woman out of the store. She was frightened and wanted out.

charlabob February 7, 2010 (6:44 pm)

Wow, someone burned a bagel in the oven at my Microsoft building Friday and we all had to evacuate. I’m kind of surprised that Safeway wasn’t evacuated. But then capitalism never stops surprising me.

miws February 7, 2010 (7:07 pm)

If they have a deep fryer, there should be a fire suppression system right over it, with an manual emergency pull.

I believe that’s been in the Fire Code for over 30 years now.

Mike

Noelle February 7, 2010 (8:41 pm)

isn’t that the safeway they want to remodel anyway?

mamamilkers February 7, 2010 (8:55 pm)

I honestly can not understand how there weren’t smoke alarms going off and why people weren’t told to immediately leave the store. My 3 yo and I were right by the deli and some people were coughing it it was really smoky. People just kept shopping, I think they didn’t really understand what was happening. No announcement or anything was made to let shoppers know! So bizarre. I’m glad no one was hurt but I think Safeway should have greater precautions in place.

WSB February 7, 2010 (9:03 pm)

Noelle – this is the Safeway that will be torn down to build a new store. The Design Review process (and other city processes) isn’t quite finished yet – in fact, there’s a Design Review meeting this Thursday night to look at one last part of the project, its facade on California. MamaM – I’m planning to follow up, starting with the Fire Department and Safeway corporate.

alki resident February 7, 2010 (9:43 pm)

Goes to show you Safeway will never close even when its on fire.Cant believe the manager didnt evacuate regardless of danger,it couldve spred and left people trapped.Just business as usual.

saney February 7, 2010 (10:30 pm)

i had just parked when the fire trucks arrived. i sat there for a few minutes to see what was going on. a guy leaving the store said it was a small fire in the deli.

i assumed the store was closed, but after a bit longer, people were still going in, so i figured it must have been a false alarm or it was over and not too serious. so i went in to get the few things i came for.

smoke could still be smelled, but they hadn’t closed off any of the store, including the area around the deli. the cashier said that none of the employees were told what was going on.

dsa February 8, 2010 (12:39 am)

I burned some crackers in the oven once. The neighbors called the fire department. It turned out to be nothing but a bunch of smoke. On the way out of the house one of the firefighters said to another “false alarm”.

Without diminishing the obvious danger, I suspect Safeway is in the clear on this one.