Update: Garage fire in Arbor Heights, 2 cars damaged

| Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

4:39 PM: A garage is on fire in the 10000 block of 40th SW (map) in Arbor Heights, and SFD was sending a “full response” to protect adjoining home(s) – but just determined that wasn’t needed, so some units are being canceled. More when we get there in a few minutes.

4:50 PM UPDATE: Added a photo. We’re told there are two vehicles in the garage, damaged by the fire. No word yet on the cause; no report of injuries. The fire isn’t completely out yet, but it’s been reported “tapped”; smoke is still visible at the scene, but no flames.

5:20 PM UPDATE: SFD confirms, nobody hurt. They won’t know for at least a few hours how it started. The garage/cars’ owner was home at the time, we’re told, but neighbors were the ones who reported the fire. We’re adding a few more photos (including a substitution for our original cameraphone photo).

C-Rad August 5, 2011 (6:30 pm)

This is the garage of a good friend of mine. Those cars are two Citroens that he has spent countless hours lovingly restoring. You might have seen him driving the older blue one or the newer silver one around. They are truly beautiful vehicles. I spoke to him a few minutes ago and he’s shaken up, but okay. He indicated the fire was electrical.

valvashon August 5, 2011 (7:06 pm)

I just blew up the picture to see if the one on the left was a DS, but they are kind of rare so I figured it was something else. As a car lover (and a French car owner!) I really feel for his loss.

C-Rad August 5, 2011 (7:44 pm)

That’s exactly what is was. A 1971 if I recall correctly. He had it in mint condition, down to the yellow headlights and a gorgeous new paint job. It was immaculate. The other one was a 1986 CX, also in pristine condition.

HelperMonkey August 5, 2011 (7:53 pm)

oh, sad. I love Citroens. Seen him around the hood, too.

CitroenVancouverBC August 5, 2011 (11:03 pm)

Two cars were lost this evening in this very sad fire of my very dear friend. A 1971 Citroen D special he had just finished restoring and I had had the pleasure to have a spirited ride in to Alki Beach less than a month ago, and a 1972 Citroen DS 21 Pallas with brown leather interior that was also rust free and about to get a full restoration. Both cars had perfect engines, bodies, and were already on the endangered list of nice Citroens left on the West Coast. The owner did suffer some first and second degree burns trying to stop the fire and needless to say is very sad this evening. If there is any good news to this story, it is that he managed to save his Citroen 2CV and his beautiful silver Citroen CX that were parked in the carport adjacent to the fire.

C-Rad August 5, 2011 (11:44 pm)

I didn’t realize he’d picked up a new one, thought he might have mentioned it. I’ve always seen the CX parked on that side of the garage, so just assumed.

breezygirl August 6, 2011 (12:57 am)

Just heart breaking!! Does anyone know if they were insured? I know it could never replace all the effort he put into them, but perhaps he could purchase another to love…