More aftermath of a fiery night: Bar-S Playfield fire

Mangled, melted plastic is all that’s left of a portable restroom that caught fire early today at Bar-S Playfield on Alki Point. Unlike the one torched at Me-Kwa-Mooks Park on Beach Drive last week, this one doesn’t belong to Seattle Parks; it was rented by West Seattle Little League. That’s according to WSLL president Mark Terao, who was at the field when we went there for a photo this afternoon. But he’s not the one who told us about it – nearby resident Thom e-mailed to report seeing the fire – and putting it out:

I live on the hill overlooking the field. My gf and I heard a very loud explosion a bit after 1:30 am. When we looked off of our back deck we could see the roof of the honeybucket was gone and there were flames inside it.

We called 911. The dispatcher advised there might be a slight delay due to a structure fire call. The honeybucket was starting to go up in flames at that point so I grabbed a fire extinguisher and went down the hill to put it out. It took two extinguishers, but I got the flames out. The firetruck showed up just minutes later. There wasn’t much left but sizzling plastic goop, but I appreciate them making sure it was doused. The honeybucket sat only feet away from a storage shed that could have gone up as well.

(The structure fire was the one on Roxbury.) Thom says they had seen illegal fireworks being set off in the area earlier; WSLL president Terao confirmed their field was “trashed,” and they had to clean it up, since they are hosting a tournament, with more games coming up tonight. “It’s frustrating,” he said. We checked with Seattle Fire; spokesperson Kyle Moore says an investigator wasn’t sent (the Roxbury fire was one of two house fires SFD was dealing with in the early-morning hours), so there’s no official cause on record. (Meantime, for a vivid look at a fireworks-suspected fire in a dry field, check out this story on our White Center site.)

14 Replies to "More aftermath of a fiery night: Bar-S Playfield fire"

  • carterbiosea July 5, 2011 (3:36 pm)

    That is terrible, and it could have been so much worse. Fireworks should be illegal in Washington. The property damage/police/fire response costs have got to outweigh any sales tax benefits, not to mention all of the poor freaked out pets. I do not understand the need for DIY fireworks, especially when there are so many free shows put on by professionals.

  • Jim P. July 5, 2011 (3:52 pm)

    My part of West Seattle sounded like a war zone until well into the early hours of the morning.

    Given that the heavier stuff is supposed to be illegal I was surprised at the quantities of enormous explosions that could be heard echoing off the hills surrounding the area.

    I have to wonder how hard the PD works at shutting this stuff down, people were tossing stuff that sounded like hand grenades and demolition charges out there.

    One can only hope for a few blown off fingers or hands to “educate” the drunken louts responsible for this nonsense at 1:30 in the morning.

  • Westside Diva July 5, 2011 (3:55 pm)

    It was a surprise for us when we saw it and called 911. What I not getting is that I gave the 911 dispatcher and the Fireman dispatcher how it was started since I saw it happen. This really bites, WSLL is going to have to eat this – Not right.

    Mark Terao: We have pictures of them on fire if you need. If you have any questions we might be able to answer then contact Thom or myself.

  • joseph July 5, 2011 (3:58 pm)

    This mornign I was walkign by the park on SW Holden below 35th St. People actually left all their trash and grill in the picnic area. Do not know if they were planning on coming back in the morning to clean it up.

  • Recall McGinn July 5, 2011 (4:15 pm)

    My neighborhood was a war zone as well. I am all for celebrating the 4th of July, but the size of the these explosions should have warranted police involvement. The trashing of EC Hughes park is shameful, I saw a large group of folks having a barbecue there yesterday evening, I wonder if they were group that literally trashed the park.

    Any idea what the police were up to between 10:00pm and 2:00am?

  • Foy boy July 5, 2011 (4:40 pm)

    Like they did on the ferry boats with dogs to stop illegale fire works, They should stake out fire works sales in white center. Just sit and whatch an when they cross roxbury bust them. Also maybe the dealers should have to post signs saying when an where you can fire them off. Also like in riots or other civil disorder problems police rely on regular peoples cell phone video to make an arrest. I can’t see why you can’t just video the illegale activity and turn it into police and wala they make and arrest. But then again the police can only arrest as many as they have room for. They would be full in about two min.

  • AJP July 5, 2011 (7:29 pm)

    Good for you for putting the fire out!!!

  • Thom July 5, 2011 (9:34 pm)

    To AJP:

    Thanks for the kind words. I’d like to think anyone would have done the same. Considering all the work that has been put into the ball park this past year, I’d hate to see it ruined by carelessness.

  • johnny July 5, 2011 (11:45 pm)

    wow. i didnt know so many communists lived in west seattle… lighten up for once. i do not approve of blowing up the honey buckets but its the 4th of july, cant you just deal with the fireworks for a couple nights? its not that bad.

  • Brontosaurus July 5, 2011 (11:59 pm)

    Thank you Thom! My son played his first season of Little League this year and loved it. So good of you to put that fire out and prevent it doing any more damage. Glad you weren’t hurt in the process. Aren’t there chemicals in those Honey Buckets? Not to mention what else is in there! You really are a hero!

  • Thom July 6, 2011 (6:49 am)

    To Brontosaurus:

    Thankfully, there was a nice breeze coming from the north, so the smoke and stench of burning plastic and other “contents” was pushed out over the water treatment plant. I had a slightly sore throat (that passed quickly) and no other ill effects.

    As for being a hero, I appreciate the sentiment but I was awake, saw a fire,and had access to a couple of fire extinguishers. The heroes were up the street battling a housefire. Those folks do this everyday. I was just glad to help out where I could until they could get there.

  • Mark Terao July 8, 2011 (11:41 am)

    Thom,
    Thank you for taking the initiative in putting out the port-a-potty fire. It would have been even more damaging and a greater loss to our league had the fire jumped to the nearby shed. Your actions is commendable and greatly appreciated but more importantly we are grateful that you were not hurt in the process.
    Though it pails in what you saved the league please come to the game tonight and let us treat you and your friend to a Bar-S dinner. Please ask someone at the field to point me out. I look forward to personally thanking you.
    Thank you,
    Mark Terao
    President
    West Seattle Little League

  • Thom July 8, 2011 (7:38 pm)

    Mark,

    I just saw your message. Sorry I missed the beginning of the game (I just got home from work), but we’ll walk down there now and say hello.

    Bar-S dinner sounds great!

    Thom

  • Mark Terao July 8, 2011 (11:51 pm)

    Thom,
    It was great meeting you tonight at the game. I hope you enjoyed your pulled pork dinner. Thank you again for being a great neighbor to Bar-S Playfield.
    Mark

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