Update: Poggie Tavern closed temporarily after fire

4:19 AM: Big fire response to the 4700 block of California in The Junction. Even as we head that way, SFD has reduced the response, though. More to come.

4:32 AM UPDATE: The address for the call, 4717 California SW, is the Poggie Tavern, and WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, at the scene, says that’s where fire crews are working – in the back, on the alley. No flames.

4:44 AM UPDATE: The incident commander has just briefed media crews (TV is there too), saying the fire started in a dumpster in the back of the building. The interior isn’t affected but there was some damage to the back.

4:54 AM UPDATE: Crews are also cutting into the roof for ventilation because of the “extension” – the area the original dumpster fire had spread to before somebody called it in.

5:08 AM UPDATE: The crews’ work is winding down. We’ll update later with an official ruling on the fire’s cause. Photo above is the charred contents of the dumpster (as TV crews shone a light briefly).

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB, “The 4717 California Avenue SW fire was started in a dumpster. It was not suspicious. The fire caused $5000 to the roof of the tavern. Fire investigators did not investigate.”

5:13 PM NOTE: We called to check on the tavern’s status; they’re closed and might remain closed for up to a week.

18 Replies to "Update: Poggie Tavern closed temporarily after fire"

  • WSLady May 14, 2012 (4:22 am)

    Thank you! I was woken up by all the alarms. I hope everyone is okay.

  • Michael Brophy May 14, 2012 (4:27 am)

    Wow, the sound of what seemed like easily a dozen vehicle’s sirens woke me up (42nd & Graham).

    • WSB May 14, 2012 (4:29 am)

      ‘Fire in building’ calls are a giant initial response, and that’s what this was, but they dropped it to a smaller call. The address for the call checks to the Poggie Tavern but awaiting my co-publisher’s report from scene to find out what’s really happening … TR

  • rockergirl5678 May 14, 2012 (4:33 am)

    When I checked the live 911 log it gave the address which was at the Pogie Tavern in the junction so if that’s where it’s at the initial response seems appropriate. Hope and pray everyone’s ok.

  • WTF May 14, 2012 (4:44 am)

    Hope no one was hurt & everyone is ok. But, maybe that smelly, disgusting place won’t make it. It’s one of the last remaining embarrassments left in the Junction.

  • Sleepy May 14, 2012 (4:44 am)

    About 6 fire trucks on scene. They have been using a chainsaw on something for the past 20 min. Not sure what is going on though.

    • WSB May 14, 2012 (4:53 am)

      That’s for ventilation – at many fire scenes, they wind up cutting holes in the roof, basically, and our crew says that’s what’s happening.

  • carlton May 14, 2012 (7:26 am)

    the poggies going to outlast those other yuppie bars in the junction.

  • cjboffoli May 14, 2012 (7:32 am)

    Back of the Poggie again? WSB covered another fire there back in January of 2009:

    https://westseattleblog.com/2009/01/update-fire-call-at-poggie-tavern-in-the-junction

  • A May 14, 2012 (8:13 am)

    my bet is on some genius tossing a cigarette butt in the dumpster filled with drops of alcohol from all those mostly-empty bottles.

  • Barb May 14, 2012 (9:05 am)

    Interesting that I can see at least 3 bottles of 5 hour energy drinks that seem to have not been harmed by the fire in the dumpster. Maybe that stuff is way more powerful than most imagine….or maybe the fire fighters used them. Just thought it was funny to see that. Glad no one was hurt in the fire.

  • CanDo May 14, 2012 (10:00 am)

    I love the WS Blog. Woke up to the sirens. Thought, “Gosh, that seems kind of close.” Looked out the windows, but didn’t see or smell smoke.

    Grabbed my phone and checked the Blog. Found out it wasn’t a major fire and was quickly back to peacful sleep. The Blog rocks!

  • DBM May 14, 2012 (10:21 am)

    Long live the Pogie!!! πŸ»πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈπŸΊ

  • Marie M May 14, 2012 (12:39 pm)

    Ditto, DBM!

  • rats May 14, 2012 (12:41 pm)

    Wonder who is smokin’ back there late at night/early in the morn?

  • Rosa2u2 May 14, 2012 (9:20 pm)

    Thanks for the blog, I too awoke to sirens early this morning (California and Juneau) I knew there was a big response cuz the fire trucks dont usually use their long sirens that late/early. Usually they just “chirp”. So glad nobody was injured.

  • Fiwa Jcbbb May 15, 2012 (6:12 pm)

    Dammit! I was going to go see The Fuzz there Friday night!

  • Slags May 15, 2012 (7:35 pm)

    Oh NO the POGGIE burned?!?!?!long live Poggiesssss!!! Cheapest beer in west Seattle

Sorry, comment time is over.