UPDATE: 2-alarm fire on East Marginal Way, visible from West Seattle

7:15 PM: The fire generating that smoke is a building in the 3600 block of E Marginal Way, not in WS. [map] Seattle Fire is going defensive on it – too dangerous to do otherwise. Per scanner, it includes ‘two metal structures, fully involved’ with propane tanks nearby.

7:27 PM: SFD has called a 2nd alarm. We just crossed the bridge and got this view:

Avoid the bridge if you can- very smoky. The fire is still spreading per scanner and you’ll want to stay far from E. Marginal too.

7:38 PM: No injuries reported, SFD says. They describe it as a “warehouse fire”; the address checks to a “private event space.”

7:43 PM: SFD is calling a third alarm. We are going back over the bridge.

7:46 PM: Third alarm canceled. Some vehicles reported to be on fire.

(Tweeted by Sareana)

8:06 PM: SFD is reporting progress knocking down the fire but also still calling for more reinforcements. Meantime, thanks for all the photos – we’ve just returned to HQ (we were out in the Alki area checking on the holiday scene when this broke out) and are catching up while monitoring this via scanner. Also, as we noted in a comment, we apologize that our image-upload-in-comment feature is not fixed yet, so even if it looks to you like it’s uploaded, it’s not showing – photos are always welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com.

8:41 PM: Still fighting the fire, and reporting progress – “well under control” is how it’s been described over SFD radio.

9:02 PM: Checked the traffic cams. Smoke over the West Seattle Bridge appears to have dissipated. On the surface, E. Marginal is still blocked at Spokane:

That’s a “live” SDOT cam view.

9:18 PM: Some units are being dismissed. SFD has tweeted photos including this one:

The tweet says the fire “has been contained to one building. Firefighters will remain on scene through the night working on spot fires.”

15 Replies to "UPDATE: 2-alarm fire on East Marginal Way, visible from West Seattle"

  • Heather McClain July 4, 2018 (7:20 pm)

    View from 30th Ave SW right off of Harbor Ave exit. 

  • Coffeedude July 4, 2018 (7:21 pm)

    From beacon hill 

  • Chris Carter July 4, 2018 (7:24 pm)

    Fire from Vashon ferry. 

  • Daniel July 4, 2018 (7:28 pm)

    View from high point.. looks like it’s turning lighter into steam now they must be putting it out

  • Cat D July 4, 2018 (7:30 pm)

    Are they closing the West Seattle Bridge?

    • WSB July 4, 2018 (7:32 pm)

      Wasn’t closed as of a few minutes ago. But we advise staying off it – very smoky. Also, I apologize but our photo upload in-comment feature is still broken.

  • Catherine Cole July 4, 2018 (7:33 pm)

    From 35th Ave SW

  • Trickycoolj July 4, 2018 (7:46 pm)

    Let us know if the morning commute on East Marginal is impacted. Sounds like its pretty big. 

  • Kristen July 4, 2018 (7:55 pm)

    It is the auto shop across from seaport & the big building

    • WSB July 4, 2018 (8:06 pm)

      Thanks. Addresses on SFD logs aren’t always the exact address of the fire so I always hesitate to label a location until there’s definite confirmation.

      • H July 4, 2018 (8:15 pm)

        Do you ever check out real time 911? They usually have exact addresses. 

        • WSB July 4, 2018 (8:23 pm)

          That’s what I am referring to. Time and again, the addresses on RT 911 are NOT ALWAYS the exact fire address. We have covered dozens of fires in our 10+ years of doing this and have seen that firsthand. Not SFD’s fault – sometimes they have nothing more to go on than where the fire was called in from. Sometimes there are corrections (that’s what it means when a location is in all caps). But we have learned overall to wait for exact confirmation – usually by our crew on scene, though that’s not going to be possible this time. SFD seems to be sticking with the 3651 E. Marginal Way address so far. – TR

          • M July 4, 2018 (10:39 pm)

            Plus firefighters should be more concerned with putting out the fire(s) anyways? No time to fuss about the exact location when there is a fire to be extinguished.

  • Admiral Mom July 4, 2018 (7:55 pm)

    Smoke can be seen from Lake Union

  • WSB July 5, 2018 (12:30 pm)

    We just went over for aftermath photos (followup to come). The actual fire address is 3633 E. Marginal.

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