West Seattle, Washington
02 Tuesday
(Photos courtesy Seafair Pirates)
Kids and adults alike shriek at its cannon blasts during parades, and wave as it carries the Seafair Pirates along city streets at other times of the year (with some of the pirates living in West Seattle, it’s a semi-common sight here between parade seasons too). But tonight, the Moby Duck is docked, so to speak, by the damage done in an engine fire. Our partners at the Seattle Times reported this morning on the fire, which happened late last night in Bothell. The group’s spokespirate Mark “Keelhaul” Jensen told the Times the damage could total $25,000. We e-mailed him to ask if they’d photographed the damage, and he sent photos including the two we’re using here:
The Pirates plan an emergency meeting to figure out what to do and whether they’ll need a donation drive to get Moby Duck sailing our area’s asphalt/concrete passageways again.
(Scroll down for updates, plus more photos added Monday night)
ORIGINAL 2:18 PM REPORT: Thanks to the WSB’ers who e-mailed to ask what we know about a big fire in the South Seattle industrial district, with smoke visible from eastern West Seattle (and downtown). It’s at South Airport/Industrial (map). Thanks to Jim for the photo; checking further. There’s live video on a stream from KING5 (thanks to Tina for that tip). 2:29 PM: The initial media update from Seattle Fire says this is a three-alarm fire at “the old Sunny Jim plant” – a vacant building – archives remind us Sunny Jim (which made peanut butter) was the site of a big fire in 1997. No injuries reported so far. (However, there are side issues – problems with looky-loos on the freeway and trees/power poles burning between the fire site and the freeway, according to the scanner.) 3:05 PM: 2 lanes are closed on southbound I-5 because of the fire. West Seattle crews are involved in fighting the fire – we’re hearing scanner traffic, for example, from Ladder 11, which was just training over at the Admiral Safeway site this morning (as shown here). We also just got this photo from Christopher Boffoli:
Our partners at the Seattle Times are covering the fire here. 3:33 PM UPDATE: Reporters at the scene say a firefighter’s been hurt – KING5’s Meg Coyle tweeted a photo of firefighters surrounding him/her to help.
4:43 PM UPDATE: Per Twitter, firefighters will not go in the structure today.
6:43 PM UPDATE: Adding more photos and info, now that our much-smaller West Seattle fire incident is wrapping up. Sue B sent this photo taken from I-5:
Christopher Boffoli caught some West Seattle crews in action at the scene – you’ll see a couple in his video clip, first:
Next, from Ladder 11, Junction-based:
Crew from The Junction’s Station 32:
And Engine 36, based by The Bridge:
Per the scanner, we heard 36 being returned to service just a few minutes ago, five hours after the fire started.
When the Aurora Bridge Fence Project affected traffic on northbound 99 last Sunday, we heard from West Seattleites who got stuck in backups – so we’re passing along the advisory that just came in for THIS Sunday, in case you were planning to use 99 – which will have closures in both directions that day – read on:Read More
David DeSiga just shared that photo of Air Force One taxiing at Boeing Field (and spectators – they don’t just turn out for those six blue F/A-18s!) – and we got a phone tip with the reminder that motorcade shutdowns of I-5 can lead to West Seattle Bridge backups too (as is apparently the case right now). Per KING5, President Obama‘s quick visit is scheduled to end some time after 3 pm today.
As of very early this morning, the downtown transit tunnel was still closed because of a “malfunction” — affecting buses, light rail, and drivers/bike riders on the streets that carry more buses when needed. To get the latest on its status, go here. 8:59 AM: As you probably know by now, all’s well again, and has been for most of the commute. The link, however, is a good resource for all Metro riders – it’s a blog-format website where they track the commute status daily, even when nothing extraordinary’s happening.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, after Blue Angels’ arrival Tuesday)
The city’s weekend traffic alert expands to four days this week – today through Sunday – since the I-90 bridge closures for Seafair Blue Angels practices and shows are about to begin. (Today’s practices – with two I-90 closures – are not the official show maneuvers, but rather the “get acclimated to the area” flights.) Also in the alert – though no roads will be closed or blocked – is an Alki event, the Festival of India on Saturday and Sunday. Read on for SDOT’s full alert list:Read More
You’ve seen the city’s new traffic-messaging signs in action recently – with the alert about the Spokane Street Viaduct lane closure, for example – and now the state is sending a reminder that its “Smarter Highways” signs are about to be activated on highways including the stretch of northbound I-5 used by drivers leaving the West Seattle Bridge. So what are these signs going to do that the current “trouble ahead” signs don’t, you ask? Read on for the official news release:Read More
ORIGINAL 4:38 PM REPORT: This is on the South Park section of West Marginal Way (map), by Northwest Center and other large industrial buildings – a rollover crash has blocked the northbound lanes of West Marginal. This is in the South Park area but in case you take that route to get back to West Seattle, here’s the traffic alert. No details on the crash cause or injuries, but tow crews are there so it shouldn’t be blocked too much longer. 4:46 PM UPDATE: A little further down the road, the Marginal/Holden intersection is still under police control and overall, says our reporter, “it’s a mess” – so avoid the area for a while.
This weekend’s big events in West Seattle – the Alki Car Show on Saturday, the West Seattle Outdoor Movies debut Saturday night (“Mamma Mia!”), the West Seattle Garden Tour on Sunday (latter two co-sponsored by WSB – aren’t blocking streets. But elsewhere around the city, this weekend’s big events might land you in the middle of some changes. Read on for the latest list from SDOT:Read More
Just in case you absolutely have to leave the peninsula this weekend – despite the lure of West Seattle Summer Fest, the Seafair Pirates’ Landing, and other events – here’s the SDOT Weekend Traffic Advisory listing where else in Seattle you’ll find crowds and closed streets – read on:Read More
(Saturday night Twitpic by @davidgjames)
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency tells WSB the agency received two complaints over the holiday weekend about the Saturday night emission from Ash Grove Cement that drew attention from West Seattle, and elsewhere (WSB coverage here), as well as an initial “fire in building” response from the Seattle Fire Department. PSCAA spokesperson Amy Warren says the complaints will be reviewed before the agency decides what, if any, action to take. Meantime, Ash Grove has issued a statement saying “finished cement was discharged” from the plant, “as a result of the affected silo being overfilled,” though the amount of “finished cement” was not mentioned. The statement sent by corporate PR rep Jackie Clark also says Ash Grove has “contacted affected neighbors to offer cleanup assistance.”
(photo added 9:04 pm, see explanation below)
ORIGINAL 8:35 PM REPORT: Just mentioning this because so many have e-mailed and texted about it. We also saw the apparent smoke that, according to the 911 log, came from the Ash Grove Cement facility on East Marginal Way (map). It was originally a “fire in building” call; however, the call was already “closed” less than half an hour after it started. So what was it? No info yet but we’ll try to find out. That may be tough – we just reached someone who answered “control room” at the plant, and as we started to identify ourselves as news media, they said “You’ll have to call back Tuesday morning” and hung up.
ADDED 9:04 PM: From Dan Berger, the photo above and this note:
Driving south on E. Marginal on my way back to W. Seattle @ 8:05 pm. I observed a large plume of ash pouring out of the top of a silo at the Ash Grove Cement plant. The plume completely obscured visibility down E. Marginal past the plant. Attached is a photo taken about 15 min. later, with the cloud subsiding. At this point there is now just a wispy haze south of the plant. No idea how much dust coated the neighborhood.
We have just driven past the plant on East Marginal – we could see, from a distance, at least one fire truck getting hosed off near the plant’s entrance road. There’s definitely some dust being kicked up as we drive along East Marginal, but not enough to show on a photo.
ADDED 11:33 PM: We’ve received video from Michelle, shot while what looked like smoke was pouring from one side of the plant. Focus on the left side of one of the silos in the center of the frame:
If no information emerges sooner, we will be checking back on Tuesday, as suggested.
If you hadn’t already seen this via Facebook, Twitter or e-mail, wanted to mention it before the commute home: The 1st Avenue South water-main repairs first mentioned yesterday are now scheduled to take until “late evening,” so the detour on Southbound 1st, between King and Railroad, is still in place – you’ll be detoured over to Alaskan Way. 4:18 PM: The city has sent another update:
Today crews have been able to keep one lane open for each direction of traffic on First Avenue South at South King Street. The estimated time to reopen the entire street is now approximately 11 a.m. tomorrow, June 18.
From SDOT:
Due to a water main break at First Avenue South and South King Street, southbound traffic on First Avenue South is being detoured at South Jackson Street to Alaskan Way, returning to First at Railroad Way [map]. First Avenue South remains open to northbound traffic. Seattle Public Utilities staff expects the repair work to continue beyond this afternoon’s peak commute period, into the evening.
5 PM UPDATE: This may not be reopened until noon tomorrow, according to an update from SDOT.
Monday night, the Seattle-area businesses (and others) who chipped in to save Seattle’s last remaining 4th of July fireworks show were invited to a thank-you party. We were working, so no-go for us, but one of the other West Seattle businesses that also donated – Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) – dropped in, and Ventana co-proprietor Anne shared photos. Above, that’s Tom Douglas, celebrity chef who helped hatch the idea of a donation challenge, signing a banner that will be displayed for the holiday; below, a slice of the crowd at the secret location:
Anne says more than 75 people were there; Douglas’s co-conspirator, radio host Dave Ross, attended too. What about next year? you might be wondering. Maybe a similar campaign, Douglas suggested. (Other donors with West Seattle ties included another WSB sponsor, Merrill Gardens, as well as CitiLights Electric.)
Editor’s note: West Seattle writer Jen Boyer covered the “Deadliest Catch“ fan convention in Seattle this weekend; we’re publishing her coverage for interested fans.
Story and photos by Jen Boyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
They wanted their crab captains and they wanted them now.
More than 1,000 superfans of Discovery Channel’s crab-fishing reality show “Deadliest Catch” attended the sold-out-in-advance second annual CatchCon on Saturday at Pier 66, some coming as far as Scotland and the Netherlands to get up close and personal with everything Deadliest Catch.
Editor’s note: West Seattle writer Jen Boyer, who publishes Heligirl.com (one of the 100+ sites whose latest links are on the WSB Blogs page), is covering today’s “Deadliest Catch“ fan convention; we’re publishing her coverage for interested fans. First: The Friday night memorial for “Captain Phil” Harris, who died last February (and had visited West Seattle to promote his coffee brand back in 2008).
(Captain Phil’s son Jake, preparing to throw a flower into the water in memory of his dad)
Story and photos by Jen Boyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Hundreds of fans, fellow fishermen, friends and family of “Deadliest Catch” Captain Phil Harris came together Friday night at Pier 91 to pay tribute to the salty crab captain that Discovery Producer Paul Gasek called “a teddy bear with that ink thing going on.”
If you’re looking north/northeast into Elliott Bay early Monday morning – between about 5:15 and 6 am – you may see ms Amsterdam, Seattle-headquartered Holland America Line‘s flagship, which’ll be the first cruise ship to call in Seattle this season, during a 108-day around-the-world journey. The Port of Seattle is expecting 223 ship visits this year, up five from last year; Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise Line will dock at Pier 66, while Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival will dock in Magnolia. More info here (though the schedule link doesn’t appear to be working – we’ve got a message out to the port seeking a copy).
A new list has just arrived from SDOT; we’re sharing since so many West Seattleites go through SODO – read on:Read More
We’re now sharing the long weekly citywide list of road-work updates when it comes out, since this list is often the first word of traffic alerts that might affect you. That was the case two weeks ago, when this list was the first to reveal May 17 as the exact date (tentatively) set for longterm closure of the 1st Avenue So. onramp to the West Seattle Bridge (here’s this morning’s update with detour maps) … and tonight, the list has news about the 1st Avenue offramp from the eastbound bridge:
Waterline work is starting soon on 1st Ave S near S Spokane St. Lane restrictions will be in place for approximately five months, including reducing the EB off-ramp from the Spokane St Viaduct to one lane.
The entire list of alerts has just been updated on its accompanying webpage – note the stadium-area 4th Avenue closure coming up this entire weekend.
West Seattleite Scott C sent that photo earlier today as the third 787 “Dreamliner” built by Boeing took off for its first flight from Paine Field in Snohomish County. At the time, it looked like the jet was Moses Lake-bound – but instead, it landed at Boeing Field, so you might have seen it in nearby skies. According to the FlightAware log, it’s still at Boeing Field right now. (ZA003 is actually the fourth Dreamliner to fly, though it was the third built; this news release explains.)
If you use Highway 99 to commute past the Battery Street Tunnel, you’ll want to know about these lane closures coming up – read on:Read More
Not West Seattle, but taken by a West Seattleite, and some WS riders had to have been in the crowd – that’s a ferry full of bicycles, headed from Bainbridge Island to downtown Seattle after the Chilly Hilly, photographed by John LaSpina, who caught this view too:
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