UPDATE: 1 arrested, 3 firefighters hurt in White Center fire

(Added: Texted photo)

3:12 PM: In case you’re seeing this too: Checking out a crime scene in White Center, our crew noticed a big plume of dark smoke to the south and headed south to look for it. It’s a big brush fire in the Park Lake area, affecting 15th/16th SW south of SW 107th.

3:31 PM: Our crew has talked with the fire chief on scene. He confirms the fire has spread to a building. No injuries reported.

3:51 PM: 16th SW is closed between 110th and 112th, so if you’re heading through that area, you’ll need to detour around.

9:24 PM: Updates – 16th SW had reopened by the time we checked back around dusk. Also, investigators say this was arson, and a suspect is in custody – a 34-year-old man. Three firefighters were injured in what was eventually classified as a three-alarm fire.

12 Replies to "UPDATE: 1 arrested, 3 firefighters hurt in White Center fire"

  • LINDA GIVLER March 20, 2019 (3:21 pm)

    I’m on 29th s.w. and it is really smokey.  Its drifting down into the ravine by Seola Beach drive

  • Gwen March 20, 2019 (3:29 pm)

    Yesterday on the 120 heading towards White Center I heard bus dispatch talk about a Caucasian man lighting garbage cans on fire on Roxbury that messed up traffic in the area. Could this be related, did they find the arsonist?

    • WSB March 20, 2019 (3:47 pm)

      This is not related. There was an arrest in that per KCSO and the story is also on our White Center site (http://whitecenternow.com) – TR

      • Gwen March 20, 2019 (4:09 pm)

        Thanks, Tracy.  Appreciate all you do. 

  • Victoria Guy March 20, 2019 (3:30 pm)

    Just flew into SeaTac and saw the smoke. Looks like its mostly blowing to the west. Hope everyone is okay.

  • Alki tesident March 20, 2019 (3:41 pm)

    Busy day there today. A guy set himself on fire too earlier. 

    • WSB March 20, 2019 (3:47 pm)

      That’s also on our WC site. Along with yesterday’s arsons and today’s robbery/stabbing/crash (linked in first line above).

  • jay March 20, 2019 (4:14 pm)

    So to be clear.. Yesterday a guy set garbage cans of fire. Today, a guy set himself on fire. And then a third person set fire to the brush. All of this happened within blocks of each other. Full moon behavior for sure!

    • Sunnmoom March 20, 2019 (5:52 pm)

      And the weather I believe. 

  • AH March 20, 2019 (4:15 pm)

    There was a car fire off of Ambaum heading south this morning around 9am near this apartment. I don’t see any reports of that. Kids from Sealth said this fire this afternoon was due to a man setting himself onfire. Is that true? 

    • WSB March 20, 2019 (5:07 pm)

      There was no car fire this morning. There was a suicide attempt on 16th SW. We have a short item about it on our WC site. Didn’t hear about it until long after it happened. In this case, we’re mentioning this here because we did hear about it as it happened and because the smoke was visible all the way to areas of West Seattle, as multiple texters made it clear. – TR

  • EC March 20, 2019 (8:38 pm)

    Crazy stuff all week. Last Saturday at 1:50AM I woke up to a brick being thrown through my bedroom window!! I live 2 buildings away from today’s fire. I called 911 and my neighbor and I saw that our 2 cars weee vandalized. The person had thrown another rock at both of our cars. My 21 month old, her dad, and I were asleep in the bed and glass got everywhere. :( Landlord got a video of someone walking away at the time I called 911, but not of the actual incident. Video footage of the person prowling cars tho! I sent a screen shot of the person who we were able to ID as living in the building next door and the officer said he’d send it to the detective, but no one has contacted me. Guess there’s too much other craziness happening, but it’s unfortunate my daughter and I are now living with a boarded window until it’s repaired. :( 

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