Since passing U.S. Navy ships and military aircraft often attract attention in our area, we’re publishing this FYI notice sent to us and other regional media today:

Northwest Navy bases will participate in an annual anti-terrorism force protection exercise called Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2020 (CS/SC 20) February 3-14.

Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access due to temporary gate closures or other security-related activities.

Area residents may also see or hear security and other first responder activities associated with the exercise, including potentially seeing training smoke, hearing small explosive sounds, or observing increased vessel activity on the water near an installation. The simulations are part of the training exercise and pose no safety risk. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders.

The safety and security of our people, equipment and facilities is a top priority. This important annual exercise is designed to ensure Navy personnel are at peak readiness to deter and respond to potential security threats.

This regularly scheduled exercise is not in response to any specific threat, but it is based on realistic scenarios designed to increase readiness. It is Navy policy not to discuss the specifics of Force Protection; therefore, the details of the exercise will not be released.

Exercise CS/SC 20 is conducted by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command on all Navy installations located in the continental United States.

The Navy routinely conducts this type of security and other emergency response exercises to ensure readiness and improve coordination, communication and collaboration with other agencies during emergency situations.

If you’re new around here – Naval Base Kitsap is the nearest U.S. Navy base.

3:44 PM: A texter points out that if you will be riding Metro back here from downtown this pm, this might affect you – road closures/bus reroutes because of a shooting involving SPD and KCSO at 3rd and Blanchard.

5:28 PM: As noted by commenters, a second shooting incident has since happened downtown. This one is reported by SFD to involve “multiple patients,” near 3rd and Pine.

5:39 PM: Six patients, according to emergency-radio discussion. Meantime, from SDOT:

6:07 PM: A reader texted that photo of NB buses queued at 3rd/Seneca. No recent update from Metro.

6:10 PM: Metro has now sent an update: “Buses in downtown Seattle continue to be rerouted off 3 Av btwn Wall St/University St & off Blanchard St west of 5 Av.”

6:18 PM: Short media briefing from police chief and fire chief: As noted above, 6 victims. 1 dead. 5 in critical condition. No one in custody. … Back to the issue of getting out of downtown, one person on Twitter tells us the Water Taxi has been busier than usual. It has one more run from downtown to West Seattle tonight, at 6:45 pm.

7:05 PM: As mentioned in comments, the Water Taxi has added runs: “To help alleviate congestion in the downtown Seattle area, the West Seattle Water Taxi will be adding additional sailings from Pier 50 to Seacrest park in West Seattle tonight.” No further details but if you’re still stuck downtown, consider heading for the pier.

7:20 PM: Update from the Water Taxi, last run from downtown will be 7:30 pm.

9:35 PM: Buses are still detoured, Metro says. Meantime, SPD has just published a short summary of the first shooting this afternoon, the one involving officers and deputies.

10:13 PM: And now SPD has published this summary of the 3rd/Pine shooting, with 1 dead and six others injured.

THURSDAY MORNING NOTE: Metro says bus routing did return to normal early this am.

Are you – or do you know – a homeless/at-risk veteran? Help is available at the Seattle Stand Down on the Georgetown campus of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) later this week. The announcement:

Homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families will be offered a “hand up” at the ninth annual Seattle Stand Down on Thursday, Dec. 12 and Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at the Georgetown Campus of South Seattle College (located at 6737 Corson Avenue South). The Seattle Stand Down is a one-stop shop for resources and services available to Veterans who currently lack permanent housing or simply need a “hand up” in order to prevent homelessness.

Representatives from local businesses, non-profits, educational institutions and all levels of government will be on hand with volunteers to provide medical screenings, eye exams, dental services, legal aid, employment opportunities, housing assistance, case management referrals, haircuts, personal hygiene items and meals. Providers offer services specifically for women Veterans including health care, advocacy, counseling, employment and personal care.

Services and resources will be provided on campus at several locations, including the Gene Colin Education Hall – Bldg C, 6737 Corson Avenue South. Parking passes will be made available to veterans receiving services.

The event is put on by The Seattle Stand Down, a volunteer team of veterans dedicated to supporting veterans experiencing homelessness.

There’s more info here, including transportation details – free transit as well as parking.

1:55 PM: If you have to head north of downtown any time in the next few hours, you’ll want to avoid Highway 99. It’s closed north of the Aurora Bridge because of a deadly crash involving a flipped car. Initial emergency-radio reports – and a text from a WSB reader who was there right after it happened – were that one person was dead at the scene, at least one other with life-threatening injuries.

4:09 PM: NB traffic is still being diverted, at last report onto Bridge Way. The Seattle Times reports the incident involved a woman driving onto a sidewalk and hitting 4 pedestrians, one of whom was killed.

6:15 PM: NB Aurora remains closed. SPD has published this update on the case, saying the driver will be booked into jail for investigation of vehicular homicide.

6:27 PM: SDOT has just announced the scene is clear.

(Added: Photos by Monica Zaborac)

11:48 AM: Got a couple questions about this – sorry we didn’t hear about it in advance, but if you too saw it and wondered, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, just arrived in Seattle. They’re visiting the Museum of Flight today. (Thanks to the commenter who saved us research time post-flyover!)

12:03 PM: The Museum of Flight tweeted video of the arrival:

We mentioned this in today’s preview since it was audible here last year too. But in case you missed that: The fireworks you’re hearing are from the Bremerton Bridge Blast show, fired off the Manette Bridge in east Bremerton [map]. P.S. Here’s the full statewide list of who’s having fireworks shows, where, and when.

5:28 PM: From the “in case you wondered too” file – yes, that’s smoke – apparently from a wildfire southwest of here. It’s near Crosby in Kitsap County (here’s a map). The Bear Creek Fire was at 22 acres as of 5 pm – not huge but big enough to be noticeable.

8:20 PM: DNR says it’s made big progress and that it has a line around 90 percent of the fire.

Heads up – the Mariners‘ opening-day game tomorrow will be preceded by a flyover. The M’s media advisory for the game says an EA-18G Growler from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island will fly over the stadium at 3:55 pm, and adds, “The flight path will be from south to north.” (Game time vs. the Red Sox is 4:10 pm.)

Just looked it up after questions via text. Fireworks tonight across Puget Sound for the Whaling Days festival in Silverdale. It’s been audible here in the past – next year we need to set a reminder!

(Air Force file photo of C-17 Globemaster III over Joint Base Lewis-McChord)

If you’re among the West Seattleites who are in the flight path and/or line of sight of Boeing Field – you might notice some unusual activity this Thursday. Here’s the announcement:

Two C-17 military aircraft will arrive at Boeing Field at about 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, as part of a drill involving the medical transport of people “injured” in a fictional national disaster. The flights will be met by emergency responders and medical personnel, who will transport the “patients” to area hospitals.

Nearly two dozen local, state, federal, and private organizations, led by Madigan Army Medical Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, have worked together since October to plan the exercise—which is required to maintain the airport’s status as a part of the National Disaster Medical System.

We asked airport spokesperson Brent Champaco if any other aircraft would be participating; he replied that you might see a military helicopter too.

That photo was texted to us by someone wondering what was on fire somewhere beyond Blake Island. We looked around and finally got the answer in a tweet a few minutes ago from South Kitsap Fire and Rescue: “Crews are on the scene of a 2-alarm brush fire in the 2800 block of Long Lake Rd SE. Battalion 8 is advising the fire is out and we are mopping up.” Here’s a map – the fire scene is west of the Southworth ferry dock.

(Added – photo sent by Erin)

8:30 PM: If you’re seeing smoke to the east – Seattle Fire has a big response arriving at what so far is described as a “fully involved” barge fire on the east side of the Duwamish River. Crews are responding to S. Myrtle in Georgetown (here’s a vicinity map).

(Added – photo sent by Hannah)

8:41 PM: Per scanner, the barge is approximately 150′ by 75′ and contains primarily “crushed cars”; SFD says there have been some “minor explosions.”

8:50 PM: Thanks for the video (above, just texted to us) and photos. (added) Here’s one from Seattle Fire front lines:

9:01 PM: SFD continues battling the fire. They’ve called for a foam truck from Boeing Field, too. (added) Here’s a photo from Kay, from the 1st Ave. S. Bridge:

And this view showing the fireboats on scene:

9:18 PM: The fire’s “knocked down,” per SFD radio, and the barge has developed a “slight list.” Thanks again to everyone who has sent video and photos – this next photo is from Angelique in Kitsap County, showing how far and wide the smoke was visible:

9:28 PM: Thanks to John Bennett for this video showing a fireboat in action at the scene:

And the fireboat from another angle, in a photo from Eli:

9:44 PM: Radio activity has slowed. We’re continuing to monitor. Still no reports of any injuries.

7:33 PM: Thanks to those who sent photos (the one above is from Jamie) – the smoke you are (or were) seeing is from what Seattle Fire has initially described as an RV fire that spread to a building at Colorado and Hanford in SODO [map].

7:37 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and no injuries were reported.

8:28 PM: Since we were in the area, headed back from the light-rail meeting, we checked out the aftermath:

The SFD crew that remained on scene confirmed no one hurt and no significant damage to the building, which is open-faced and holds metal materials.

ADDED 11:56 PM: Bill Gobie sent this video:

This was along his route home.

(Added: State Patrol photo)

2:29 PM: Thanks for the tip about a Highway 509 closure – south of here but just in case you’re headed that way: WSDOT says it’s closed in both directions near Sea-Tac; if you’re headed southbound, you’ll be diverted to S. 160th; if northbound, you’ll be diverted to S. 188th. Per King County Sheriff’s Office scanner traffic, they’re investigating gunfire.

2:33 PM: State Patrol says 4 cars were hit, no injuries.

4:32 PM: The search is currently focused at the south end of 509, at 188th, but the backup on 509 is reported to start much further north, so if you have to head south, we’d advise non-509 routes.

6:25 PM: Via Twitter, the State Patrol has just posted this update: “Reopening NB Sr-509 lanes to normal traffic. The right lane of SB Sr-509 will remain closed while WSP K-9’s search the area for possible evidence.”