UPDATE: ‘Overheated wiring’ blamed for fire at D & H Auto in South Delridge; no one hurt

(UPDATED Friday afternoon with fire’s cause)

(Texted photo)
9:57 PM: Seattle Fire is responding to a “fire in building” call at Delridge and Barton. It’s believed to be a commercial building. Police are blocking traffic both ways, at Delridge to the north. Westbound traffic is being blocked at 20th/Henderson. More to come.

(ADDED: WSB photo)
10:05 PM: Firefighters confirm it’s a commercial building. They say they have the fire knocked down; our crew has just arrived and says it’s very smoky – firefighters are bringing out their ventilating equipment. As we write this, our crew is telling us the building’s signage says D & H Auto.

10:10 PM: No report of injuries. Despite the volume of smoke, it’s not a huge fire – some units are being dismissed.

10:23 PM: SFD confirms no injuries – no one was in the building when the fire started. The fire marshal (investigator) has been summoned and will determine what caused it.

10:32 PM: We talked at the scene with SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore. He says that flames were visible from the sides of the building when firefighters arrived, but it only took them 10 minutes to get the fire out. They’re still checking for damage inside – one car might have been in the building. Investigation of the cause is under way. The roads in the area should reopen within an hour.

MIDNIGHT: Just drove by. The roads are indeed open, though northbound is narrowed right in front of the fire scene. One fire engine is still there, apparently on “fire watch,” keeping a crew on scene (rotating a new one in every so often) just in case it rekindles. No word yet on the cause. Adding video (above) of our brief interview with SFD spokesperson Moore.

ADDED 1:26 PM FRIDAY: The cause, from SFD:

Seattle Fire Investigators determined a fire at a West Seattle auto repair shop was accidental, caused by overheated electrical wiring inside an office. The damage estimate is $70,000.

The update on SFD’s Fire Line website also says one car was destroyed.

20 Replies to "UPDATE: 'Overheated wiring' blamed for fire at D & H Auto in South Delridge; no one hurt"

  • Sky2625 May 7, 2015 (10:00 pm)

    Multiple rounds of firetrucks flying past us at Delridge and Trenton heading south…

  • Mo May 7, 2015 (10:01 pm)

    Wow! You guys are fast. We are watching multiple fire trucks head to the scene. We can’t smell smoke and we are only a few blocks away. I hope everyone is okay.

  • alki resident May 7, 2015 (10:01 pm)

    So the garage or towing company?

  • betsy May 7, 2015 (10:08 pm)

    I’m trying to figure out what building this could be… Was it a pot shop?

  • Curtissimo May 7, 2015 (10:12 pm)

    Smoke was rolling out the windows from inside, looks like a cinder block building:
    D & H Automotive
    8854 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106

  • Becky May 7, 2015 (10:12 pm)

    We’re about 10 blocks south and our yard is thick with smoke. Can’t imagine what it’s like closer to the scene.

    • WSB May 7, 2015 (10:13 pm)

      It’s in the story. D & H Auto.

      • WSB May 7, 2015 (10:21 pm)

        … and the fire 911 log has now corrected from original Delridge/Barton dispatch to 8854 Delridge.

  • B May 7, 2015 (10:29 pm)

    I’m about 2 blocks away and I think my smoke alarm may go off inside my house, kinda joking, but not really. Definitely smells like a camp fire is in my living room so it’s pretty bad! I’m sure it didn’t help that I had my windows open because it was a nice day/night until I started smelling smoke come in. Thank you for the updates!!

  • irishlady May 7, 2015 (10:58 pm)

    Our windows were closed and house filled with smoke about a block and half away. Trying to air it out now. Glad no one was hurt. It looked big but then we realized it was all the lights reflecting off the smoke.

  • REBEKAH LASALA May 7, 2015 (11:05 pm)

    At 10:45 p.m.: There are trucks blocking Barton at the bottom near QFC and at the top near Delridge and Barton…I smelled smoke as I live about two blocks away. It smells like smoke in our entire building! Interesting. I hope everyone is okay. Anyway, be safe. Fire is one of my worst fears, and I always pray when I see it.

  • KD May 8, 2015 (12:17 am)

    It’s not the Delridge auto place with the outside guard dog is it?

  • Pro May 8, 2015 (1:34 am)

    That’s my mechanic, I hope Jorge is going to be ok after this.

  • Kay May 8, 2015 (2:37 am)

    I live about a block north of this fire. I noticed that my water is dirty & it may be related to this incident. Is anyone else experiencing this?

  • J May 8, 2015 (10:26 am)

    It is interesting that all the cars were gone. That shop has had multiple cars parked all around it for years and the night it catches fire there weren’t any cars in its lot… Interesting.

  • bj May 8, 2015 (10:47 am)

    @Kay – Yeah! I noticed dirty water as well and I’m at DRidge & Trenton. It’s not just me then…

  • S May 8, 2015 (11:54 am)

    Why was the lot cleared? I am less than 2blocks away passing this place daily. There are always 8-10 cars parked there. Had he closed his shop?

  • S May 8, 2015 (12:00 pm)

    @Kay & bj; there was a water main break in SODO…not sure if that’s connected.

    • WSB May 8, 2015 (12:10 pm)

      The water main break in SODO would definitely not be affecting water here. If hydrants are tested or used in an area, it’s not uncommon for there to be some residual effects nearby – last week, after the three-house fire in Pelly Place, nearby residents were noticing effects even a day later. I don’t have the ability to cut and paste the link right now but if you Google (or Bing) for:

      Seattle Public Utilities discolored water

      there is a very helpful page on the SPU site. – TR

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