Spokane Street warehouse fire: Two updates

(photo by C. Simmons)
If not for the massive flooding in the northern and southern areas of Western Washington, the Spokane Street fire at Pacific Sheet Metal early today (WSB coverage here) would have been a huge story for citywide media. Since they’re preoccupied, we’ll post a few updates here: No word on the cause yet – the latest update from Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen says firefighters are working to get “a large amount of water” out of the building and its surrounding area, and once that’s done, investigators will be able to go in. (added 12:51 pm — you can see the water in this photo sent by C. Simmons)

Also, Seattle Police have posted a side note to SPDBlotter — In addition to closing the Spokane Street Viaduct (the stretch between Highway 99 and I-5) during the height of the fire, they also had to stay with an unusual group of evacuees – residents and staff of the high-security sex-offender detention facility on the other side of the SSV had to be moved out for a few hours, and police stayed with that group until they were allowed to return to the building around 4:30 am. We’ll post another update here whenever the Fire Department has more investigation info (just saw a short TV update, finally, but it was the same info we posted nine hours ago). 12:32 PM UPDATE: City Light says it’s now restored power to all but one of the customers that have been without it since the fire.

Aim January 8, 2009 (2:28 pm)

THANK YOU WSB!! This effects quite a few of us who commute to downtown or SODO for work. Any idea if 1st is open again or is investigation ongoing at site?

JenV January 8, 2009 (2:47 pm)

Aim, 1st ave was open when I went to Arvey paper this morning.

Aim January 8, 2009 (2:51 pm)

Thanks Jen – the bitter half has to pick me up from work and was incredibly bitter about the re-route this morning (may have had something to do with neglecting to drink a third cup of coffee…)

Islewrite January 8, 2009 (2:55 pm)

The other citizenry that needed police protection were the numerous homeless in campers and vans under Spokane St. right at that intersection. I was listening on the scanner last night and officers took extra effort to ensure that all were safe and moved away from the scene.

WSB January 8, 2009 (3:21 pm)

Also one of my contacts at SDOT also just confirmed there are no more closures.

gw January 9, 2009 (4:48 pm)

my condolences to the dutchman AND pacific sheet metal- seemed like an honest, hardworking blue collar seattle business (who did some amazing fabrication work btw). they helped me out a few years ago tracking down some specialty roofing. I hope their insurance coverage will allow them to get back to business.