FOLLOWUP: 2-alarm Admiral construction-site fire remains a mystery

(WSB photo, Saturday)

Ever since that 2-alarm fire in the 2300 block of 48th SW early Saturday, we’ve been checking back with SFD to see if they had determined the cause. Today, the official word is that “Our fire investigators were unable to determine a cause,” according to SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo. He says the estimated loss in the fire – which damaged neighboring residences as well as gutting five under-construction rowhouse units – was $910,000. No one was hurt but the fire spread burning debris over a distance – one Alki Avenue condo resident even reported finding some of it.

Lola April 14, 2020 (4:21 pm)

Wow, I found that hard to believe. My son said it sounded like something exploded but maybe it was just the crackling of something burning when he woke up.

Neighbor April 15, 2020 (10:35 am)

I think the explosions were the windows exploding out from the heat. I stood watching the fire while waiting on 911 to be connected to the fire department and saw exploding windows and shattering glass several times. There was no sound prior to the first window exploding. Fire is quieter than I thought it would be, pretty scary.
- WSB April 15, 2020 (10:41 am)
  
  That’s the sound I remember most from my family’s home being gutted by fire when I was 10 (seeing it as they blew out). Otherwise, when occupied homes/garages burn, other sources of that kind of sound include propane tanks, paint or other aerosol cans, even apparently ammunition.

SUDS April 14, 2020 (5:55 pm)

Interesting, so that’s it, then? I have no idea about fire investigations, how often they’re unable to determine the cause. Does this happen frequently? It must drive the liability people bananas.

Hammer in Hand April 14, 2020 (5:56 pm)

At what stage of construction was the building (s) units ina few come to mind oilly ragsover heated heaters or power cords, spider box

onion April 14, 2020 (6:16 pm)

I walked over there today to look. I am no expert, but it’ very hard to believe this was an accident. Someone’s getting away with one here, in my (nonexpert ) opinion.

Paco April 14, 2020 (7:19 pm)

There’s a lot of circumstantial evidence in favor of arson here. Late Friday night, easily accessible construction site, fast, total and utter devastation.
- Peter April 15, 2020 (8:27 am)
  
  None of that is evidence of arson.

flimflam April 14, 2020 (7:01 pm)

huh. so after a few days its simply “case closed – we don’t know”?

AMD April 14, 2020 (7:51 pm)

SFD has nothing to gain by saying they couldn’t find a cause if they could. Fire destroys whatever it touches, so it’s not surprising that there are times when they just can’t tell what started it. If you have evidence of a specific cause, by all means submit it to investigators so they can take into account whatever they missed. Otherwise, vague insinuations that they’re not doing their jobs from armchair fire investigators are not at all helpful.

RTW April 14, 2020 (9:05 pm)

Been watching this like a hawk. I didn’t see the investigators step on the property. It was all hand waving from the street. No different from the parade of casual passerby’s.If a claim is filed, I hope the insurance company runs their own investigation. They’ll run an assessment and can hire handlers for dogs that detect accelerants.

Too curious April 14, 2020 (10:33 pm)

Crazy. I’d be curious to hear if anyone else happened to see any investigators getting dirty in there. Surely they asked neighbors for any doorbell videos, right? It’s also possible that there’s an ongoing investigation on the developer, but SFD just needed to release a statement in the meantime.
- Too curious April 14, 2020 (11:03 pm)
  
  Oh, just saw your comment that this is the “final determination.” Boo. But thank you WSB for the update.
Peter April 15, 2020 (8:29 am)

Seriously? You want us to believe you’ve been watching this every minute since it happened an can absolutely assert that no investigators have been on site? I don’t believe you.
- RTW April 15, 2020 (6:56 pm)
  
  Well, Peter, the fire happened on a weekend and there’s a quarantine in place so I haven’t gone anywhere. Ever since the fire (which was traumatic by the way) sounds from outside get my full attention. I’m interested in getting to the bottom of this like my neighbors. However, I’m betting no officials are invested in a costly investigation based on what I observed and because no one got hurt (thank god). Instead it’s up to the parties with financial interests. I.e. the insurance company.

wscommuter April 14, 2020 (10:17 pm)

Fire investigators and arson investigations focus on the burn pattern and effectively seek to walk backwards through the path of the fire. Sometimes that leads to a source such as a shorted-out appliance, or in the instance of suspected arson, the use of an accelerant such as gasoline. But it is an inexact science and forensically not certain in all cases. My take on the information released so far is that perhaps they can’t source the cause … but it also may be that they are still investigating while they figure out what can be discerned from what they do know. It’s only been a few days; I assume that investigators still have work to do in determining if they can figure out what happened.

WSB April 14, 2020 (10:19 pm)

In both cases this is the final determination.
- kfc April 15, 2020 (6:52 pm)
  
  That’s unfortunate about the determination. *Have the investigators interviewed the builder?? Asked him about the machines running day and night? *Who can we contact w our concerns? The roaring noise from fans/heaters was loud enough to hear on the street. That’s significant information. The building had been saturated from rains because no roof was built during the winter causing mold and needed to dry out. A few months ago we talked to a worker who sprayed an anti mold product on the wood. Additionally, the units were built out right to the property line and close as legally possible to the condos/apts on either side. How do we find out about the rebuild, and what the builder’s plans are?
  - WSB April 15, 2020 (7:00 pm)
    
    Probably will take a bit but once they re-file, it would be in the same place, visible via the Seattle Services Portal. Although, checking the archives, a big construction fire 13 years ago
    https://westseattleblog.com/2007/08/4132-cali-fire-arson/
    was followed by a re-filing just three weeks later.
    https://westseattleblog.com/2007/09/at-the-scene-of-the-last-big-ws-fire/
  - Agreewithkfc April 15, 2020 (9:51 pm)
    
    I heard the same thing about mold. Believe there is remnants of the fans and propane heaters in the rubble. Was curious as well if it got too dry and something was left on if the stuff you spray to remove mold is flammable? This place was completely engulfed before anyone even noticed the fire. Seems like it expanded EXTREMELY fast!!

Lola April 15, 2020 (8:02 am)

I feel sorry for the neighbors who live close by, now they must endure more noise, and traffic down this street while they rebuild yet again. I hope the neighbor’s who’s homes were affected by this can get compensation? Sad that this was the out-come. I feel for them all.

sbre April 15, 2020 (8:30 am)

I manage the two rental properties directly across the street.Due to the intense heat, combined we have 7 vinyl windows that are needing replacement and one plastic downspout. Some paint on one unit bubbled-up, the taillights and license plate holder of one car melted. Plus a couple of trees may need to come down, but time will tell.

Neighbor April 16, 2020 (3:01 pm)

Are you going through the insurance company of the construction site to get that taken care of and paid for? If so, how are you determining who to get in contact with?
KFC April 21, 2020 (5:12 pm)

Thanks, @jadams@qdotglobal.com I’ll be in touch.&nbsp ;If anyone hears or knows about the builder re-filing, please post. Let’s hope he gives it a rest. See WSB comment on April 15, 7:00pm

Jim Adams April 16, 2020 (10:38 am)

I’m a private fire investigator looking into this fire. If anyone has any information, witness statements, ring videos or other video or pictures…please contact me at this email address. jadams@qdotglobal.comThank you.

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