Update: Fire in 5000 block of Delridge out, street now open again

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(Photo substituted at 6:25 pm for original 5:53 pm cameraphone pic)
ORIGINAL 5:41 PM REPORT: We’re on our way to the fire reported in the 5000 block of Delridge (map). Per the scanner, it’s a duplex, and everybody got out OK. “Small amount” of flames said to be visible from the roof. Police are being called in to help divert traffic around the fire scene. 5:50 PM UPDATE: Our crew’s arriving and confirms Delridge is blocked.

From the scanner, fire is described as “tapped.” Our crew is seeing firefighters cutting holes to ventilate the roof. 6:01 PM UPDATE: Incident commander tells us the fire was in a range hood. Police, via scanner, expect Delridge will be blocked another 15 minutes or so. 6:26 PM UPDATE: No word of reopening yet. Added a few more photos, including this closer look at the deployed ladder:

6:42 PM UPDATE: Delridge has reopened, both ways.

Black Water in Bathtub in Highland Park October 12, 2010 (6:11 pm)

I am posting this here to see if anyone of my neighbors are experiencing black water coming out of their faucets. I was filling the bathtub with warm water around 6pm when suddenly the water turned black in a very dramatic way! i jumped out and have been on hold with the water utility ever since. then i checked out the blog and saw this fire post – i am in highland park – and i am guessing the water is from sediment from opening the fire hydrant? The water utility person said to wait 3-4 hours, then run cold water for 3 minutes to clear it. She said to avoid hot water until the cold water runs clear – so that the hot water tank does not suck it into my hot water heater. YUCK!

Amanda October 12, 2010 (6:30 pm)

I live across the street from the duplex and am not experiencing the same problems with my water.

MikeoffAlki October 12, 2010 (7:02 pm)

Well Black Water… I suspect it is your pipes. Run your water and it should clear up! Good advice! Don’t run hot water.

Jake October 13, 2010 (8:29 am)

I called 911 on this. I was biking home along Delridge at about 5:15, and saw smoke in the air. I assumed it was someone BBQing, but just as I passed the house, I saw a small flame on the roof! I called in the fire dept, then knocked on the doors of the adjacent units to make sure everyone was out. I was amazed by the speed – and volume – of the SFD response: 2 ladder trucks, 3 fire trucks, 3 fire paramedics, and a helicopter (not sure if the helicopter was Fire Dept, or just a news chopper). I’m glad everyone was alright!

WSB October 13, 2010 (8:35 am)

Jake – SFD doesn’t have a chopper; it was TV. (SPD doesn’t either, but when one is needed for a search, area law enforcers call for Guardian One, operated by King County Sheriff’s Office.) Thanks for the quick call! It was a “fire in building” response as opposed to “fire in single-family residence,” so a little bit larger – they explain time and time again, better to roll everything till they know what’s happening, and then cancel some, than to get there with one unit and say “oh my gosh, lives are at risk” and have to call in more – those minutes could mean lives lost. – TR

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