West Seattle, Washington
06 Saturday
(Reader photo)
1:20 PM: A fire call in the 4800 block of 25th SW has just been upgraded to a “full response” and arriving crews have declared it a “working fire.” Updates to come.
1:23 PM: Fire crews believe the fire is centered in the basement. They’ve found it and are putting water on it. Meantime, thanks to the neighbor who sent the photo we’ve added above. Police are blocking off surrounding streets (including Edmunds at Delridge). They’ve quickly declared the fire under control. No word of injuries so far.
1:33 PM: SFD confirms no one is hurt. They’ve searched the building and report it “all clear.”
1:40 PM: SFD has declared the fire “tapped” (out). They’ll be investigating the cause and starting to dismiss units.
ADDED FRIDAY: “Investigators ruled the fire was accidental. Likely caused by faulty electrical,” SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB.
(WSB photo, Tuesday)
Four days after Camp Long‘s historic lodge was gutted by a fire that’s been ruled arson, the park’s supervisor Matt Kostle asked us to share this with the community, because more has been lost than a building:
Dearest friends, community members and supporters of Camp Long,
Thank you all for your thoughts and support after this tragic fire.
At this time, we do not have any updates on the investigation. We also do not yet have any updates on the next steps for our park. We ask that you look to Seattle Parks and Recreation Communications Department for any updates as they come. We know how special this place is to everyone and what a terrible loss this is to the West Seattle Community. We are so grateful to you for your outpouring of support, memories and inquiries as we grieve this catastrophic event.
In addition to the devastation of our beloved lodge, we also lost everything within it. This includes many historic photos, documents and stories of all the magic that has happened here over the years.
In light of this, we are reaching out to all of you, our community, friends and supporters, to share with us your stories and photos so we can rebuild a new Camp Long Catalogue of history. Below is a link where you can upload photos and stories you would like to share with us, and that we may feature on our social media sites in the days and weeks to come:
Parks’ most recent public comment was that the lodge is still being “assessed” so they can decide what to do next.
(Monday night photo by Kerry Antezana)
2:57 PM: Three days after a deliberately set fire gutted the historic lodge at Camp Long, Seattle Parks is still working to determine its future. Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin had told us they hoped to have more to say later in the week, so we checked back, also asking about the park’s status overall. Here’s the response:
Currently the department is assessing the damage of the main building at Camp Long. After this assessment we will be able to determine next steps.
The park continues to be closed but we hope to reopen it soon as soon as we can secure the building.
Programming is currently cancelled and we hope to resume in the coming week.
Parks said on Tuesday that damage from the fire is estimated at $1.2 million; two of the park’s rustic cabins were vandalized the same night. Investigators found shattered glass and blood droplets; no new information about the investigation so far.
The lodge went through a million-dollar renovation back in 2010.
ADDED 3:50 PM: We also followed up with District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka‘s office. Chief of staff Elaine Ikoma Ko tells WSB they’ve been talking to both SPD and Parks and “We let them know that we stand prepared to support next steps. So we are waiting and monitoring this closely.”
(WSB photo)
2:16 PM: Seattle Parks crews have spent the morning boarding up the windows and doors at Camp Long‘s fire-ravaged lodge. As reported here last night, the fire was reported around 8 pm Monday; no one was hurt, but it’s clear that major damage was done. Seattle Fire spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells WSB that the fire remains under investigation; this post on SFD’s Fire Line site details how firefighters battled the flames. As for the lodge’s fate, we asked Parks, and spokesperson Rachel Schulkin responded with this statement that reveals the lodge wasn’t the only building affected:
Last night our beloved and historic Camp Long building, along with two other cabins on site, were vandalized and caught fire. We are still actively assessing the situation at Camp Long and currently do not have any information on the future of this facility. We hope to have more information by the end of tomorrow.
(Added: The entire park is closed today.)
Camp Long falls under the designation of what the city calls an Environmental Learning Center; commenters have noted that the proposed city budget calls for cuts to the department’s environmental-education program, and a proposal to move it under a “public/private partnership.” Supporters of the program were already planning to testify at tonight’s 5 pm budget hearing. (Here’s the online petition they’re circulating.) Meantime, people continue arriving at the park’s entrance to gaze sadly at the charred, boarded-up lodge; the word “heartbreaking” was heard over and over again. Many are there in honor of memories made at the lodge. One person who briefly spoke with us said there’s an apartment on the lodge’s second floor in which they lived many years ago.
4:09 PM: SFD has just announced that investigators ruled the fire “intentionally set” and have “shared their findings with police.” Damage is estimated at $1.2 million.
4:25 PM: Added information from a summary released by SPD after their investigator talked with SFD’s investigator:
(SFD’s investigator) informed me he believed the fire was arson. He explained to me there were multiple glass windows broken behind the building, which he believes could have been a forced point of entry. He stated he did not know what was used to start the fire, but believed the fire started inside the North stairwell.
He informed me there were two cabins on the property that appeared to have been broken into. He said one of the cabins had glass shattered across the ground and there were blood droplets inside and outside the cabin. He stated there were no indication that any property was stolen from the lodge or cabins.
.
I then contacted a Seattle Parks and Recreation Branch Manager who walked me around the property and pointed out the damage done to the lodge. I observed a broken glass door on the north end of the lodge and multiple broken windows on the west side of the lodge’s basement. All could have been possible entry points of the suspects.(The manager) then walked me to the two cabins that were broken into. The first cabin was cabin 6 (Glacier). I immediately noticed a shattered window, with glass dispersed across the ground inside and outside of the cabin. I observed what appeared to be a blood trail that started on the front steps of the cabin entrance and tracked inside the cabin.
(The manager) showed me Cabin 4 which appeared to have had its Plexiglas window pushed out of its frame and onto the floor. I confirmed with (the manager) that there was no other vandalism done to the property, and there was no property stolen.
They’ve sent samples of the blood in for testing.
6:07 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent the photo from what was briefly another big Seattle Fire callout, this time in the 2300 block of 44th SW. The log indicates the callout just before 5 am was downsized quickly. We’ll follow up with SFD.
3 PM: SFD tells us, “At 4:58 a.m., crews were dispatched a reported house fire in the 2300 block of 44th Ave SW. They arrived on scene to a porch fire and quickly downgraded the response. They extinguished the fire and found no extension. No injuries reported.” No word on the cause of the “porch fire,” though.
(Added: Reader photo by Trevor)
8:06 PM: Seattle Fire has dispatched a “full response” to 5200 35th SW, which is the address for Camp Long. “Multiple calls on a structure on fire” at the park, per the dispatch.
8:08 PM: First units on scene report this is a “working fire.” They’re calling for more engines. They’re describing the burning building as a “single-family residence with basement.”
8:16 PM: They report the fire is “partly knocked down.” They’re also reporting broken windows on at least one level. We don’t yet know if this is the park’s historic lodge. We have WSB team members on the way. Note police are blocking 35th in the area.
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
8:22 PM: The building is too dangerous for firefighters to be in, so they’re getting out. A nearby neighbor confirms the lodge is what’s on fire.
(Added: Photo by Sharonn Meeks)
8:33 PM: The lodge is more than 80 years old, constructed from wood and stone, rented out for events as well as used for park programs. Fire’s not out yet.
8:48 PM: Those in the area say even in the rain, you can smell smoke for blocks around. Firefighters have been on scene battling the fire for 40 minutes now.
(Reader photo sent by Kacie)
9:05 PM: Southbound 35th is reopening. Some of the units on scene are being dismissed.
9:16 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and under investigation. No injuries reported. The lodge was renovated in 2010. We’ll check with Parks tomorrow, and go to the scene, to find out about the extent of the damage.
9:40 PM: More reader views of what happened during the peak of the firefight – the first video was linked in a comment by Tony:
Kerry Antezana shows us the role one firefighter played:
Kerry also sent this view:
10:25 PM: A few firefighters remain at the scene on “fire watch”:
(Photo by Cindi Barker)
8:20 AM: Here’s our first look at the lodge in daylight:
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
(Texted photo)
3:24 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s texted/emailed about that car fire toward the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.
(Photo sent by Jackie)
Firefighters have since arrived. At least one passerby noted the driver was on scene. We’re checking on injuries.
(Video sent by Matt)
3:46 PM: A texter says traffic is moving again through that area.
5:45 PM: SFD confirms, no one was hurt.
(Added: Reader photo, posted by Mia in comments)
11:14 AM: SFD has a full response going to what’s described as an attic fire in the 8400 block of 13th SW [near Cloverdale]. First arriving crews report “flames from the roof.”
(WSB photos from here down)
11:22 AM: Everyone inside is reported to have gotten out OK. Firefighters say they’re “making progress on the fire.”
11:28 AM: Firefighters report the fire is under control.
11:40 AM: Our crew at the scene reports it’s now “tapped” (out). SFD confirms no injuries; their investigator is on the way.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty says, “The cause of the fire in the 8500 block of 13th Ave SW was ruled accidental, started as a food-on-stove fire that spread through the kitchen and into the attic of the home.”
(Added: SFD photo)
9:34 PM: A few people have asked about the Seattle Fire response this past hour at Alki Bathhouse – attention-getting because firefighters extended a ladder to check out the roof.
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photos. And thanks to Brad (via Cami) for the report that firefighters were looking into the possibility a “sky lantern” had landed on the roof. We’re following up with SFD to see if that’s what they found (the call was coded “rubbish fire,” but that’s used to cover a variety of possibilities).
ADDED TUESDAY: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB, “Crews responded reports of smoke coming from the roof, so crews extended a ladder to climb up and investigate. No fire was found, and no injuries were reported.”
Seattle Fire is at the scene of a small fire that initially was dispatched around 7:30 pm as a large “full response” but then was almost immediately downsized – Ladder 13 was first on scene and able to deal with it quickly. It’s at a vacant, boarded-up house in the 2200 block of SW Trenton [map], northeast of Westwood Village. The fire’s now out, and SFD’s investigator is on scene (and calling just now for police assistance, so we’ll be following up on that). No injuries reported.
An apartment fire in High Point on Sunday didn’t bring a huge response, so it didn’t hit our radar, but we’ve since learned it has left two people and two cats dealing with the aftermath. Both people work at Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care (WSB sponsor), which has organized a crowdfunding campaign and request for other help:
Dear West Seattle community,
Hanna Oatts (on the left), our newest Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care employee, recently experienced a major apartment fire that destroyed most of her belongings and has left her and her sweet kitties, Dillinger (16) & Bubba (12), without a home. The fire occurred while good friend Stina Borst (on the right, also an employee of NN!) was catsitting, resulting in a loss of many of her belongings as well. Both humans and kitties are safe and unharmed (but exhausted) and need your support.
Please consider donating what you can via our GoFundMe campaign on their behalf.
Do you, or someone you know, have resources to provide access to any of the following
-Temporary housing
-Kitty fostering
-Possibly, a more permanent long-term lease in the West Seattle, White Center, Burien areas (studio or 1 bedroom apartment preferred)
-Legal assistance, support navigating tenants rights in WA stateIf so, please email hello@neighborhood-naturopathic.com
Thank you for your assistance,
Neighborhood Naturopathic and Primary Care team
7:58 AM: Seattle Fire crews are at Maris, 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW [map], for a reported apartment fire. It’s already under control.
(Added: Reader photo, sent by Tony)
8:03 AM: SFD reports the fire’s out. The unit above the one where the fire happened was affected by smoke, so they’re ventilating.
8:10 AM: SPD reports Fauntleroy is currently blocked both ways at the scene, “probably for another 15 minutes,” though SFD is starting to reduce the response.
(Added: WSB photo)
8:13 AM: SFD tells our crew at the scene that this was a kitchen fire and no one was hurt.
8:58 PM: Tony, who sent the first photo, reports that people have been allowed back into Maris. And police have just told dispatch that all lanes of Fauntleroy Way are open again.
9:02 AM: Seattle Fire is headed to a house in the 1700 block of SW Cloverdale [vicinity map], for a report of smoke coming from the eaves. Dispatch reports the two people who were at home report they’re safely out of the house. Updates to come.
9:06 AM: Firefighters tell dispatch they are seeing smoke from the roof and front door.
9:09 AM: They’re reporting they have “water on the fire.”
9:18 AM: They’ve made enough progress that they’re going to start dismissing some of the crews.
9:21 PM: Added photos from our crew, who reports the smoke has dissipated. SFD says it’s ventilating. They’ll be investigating the fire’s cause.
9:30 PM: Our crew has confirmed no one was hurt and that the SFD investigator is on the way. (We’ll add whatever they determine, when that info is available.)
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells WSB, “Investigators ruled the fire as an accidental food on stove fire that spread to cabinets.”
12:08 PM: What was briefly a Seattle Fire “full response” in Admiral a short time ago was quickly downsized. Crews arriving at the scene in the 2700 block of 45th SW [vicinity map] cited a suspected electrical fire, and subsequent information from dispatch says it’s believed to be a solar-panel problem.
12:16 PM: Firefighters report the fire is out. One crew reports that a “bundle of leaves” appears to be what ignited.
11:27 PM: Seattle Fire has a full response on the way to a possible apartment fire in the 3000 block of 60th SW. [vicinity map] Updates to come.
11:30 PM: Firefighters say it appears to have been a small fire extinguished “by occupant,” and they’re downsizing the response.
(WSB photo, Monday)
Back on Monday, we reported on a fire that damaged three buildings at Full Gospel Pentecostal Federated Church in North Delridge. The next day, as we noted in an update at the end of the original report, SFD announced the fire was accidental. Readers have asked how to help the church recover; today, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s newest newsletter has suggestions. He writes:
… Church leadership are looking at the availability for an alternative site for their Sunday service and they will be issuing community notifications soon. The leadership shared: “Our greatest joy would be to see the community of supporters in person and their best donation is the time taken in human fellowship.”
Monetary donations can be sent electronically to the Church’s Cash App log-in: #FullGospel5071, or Zelle, log in fgpfcf@gmail.com. Checks may be mailed to: Full Gospel Pentecostal Federated Church, c/o P.O. Box 232 Renton, WA 98057.
{Note: Other types of donations are welcomed, but the capacity to store them is currently very limited at this time.}
No one was injured by the fire. We spoke at the scene with someone from the church who told us it hit doubly hard because they were already grieving, having just hosted a memorial service two days earlier for a longtime member.
12:42 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to the 5000 block of Delridge Way SW. Avoid the area. Updates to come.
(Added: Photo sent by TI)
12:46 PM: Dispatch says caller reported flames and smoke from a Full Gospel Pentecostal Church building at 5071 Delridge [map]. First units arriving confirm it’s a “working fire” and that they’re seeing “heavy fire” from one side.
(Added: WSB photo)
12:50 PM: Firefighters now say the fire is in a “detached building” on the church property and is under control. Delridge, meantime, will be blocked both ways between Edmunds and Brandon, per police.
(Added: WSB photo)
12:58 PM: Though they declared it “under control,” the fire is nowhere near out yet. They’re calling for more units. Our crew heading to the scene says smoke is still visible from a distance. Here’s a photo Samuel sent from High Point:
See comments below for other photos of the smoke. No report of injuries so far.
1:10 PM: Added photos now that our crew is there. They report the “detached building” is to the west of (behind) the church’s main Delridge-fronting building, and separated by just a few feet.
(Added: WSB photo)
(Added: WSB video)
1:25 PM: SFD has called the fire “tapped” (mostly out). Our crew has spoken to someone from the church, who tells us the building where the fire started is used as a clothing bank and kitchen, plus meeting spaces for some groups to which the church rents space. We’re waiting now to hear from SFD spokespeople on scene.
1:40 PM: We’ve talked with SFD and will add that video when back at HQ. They said the fire did extend a bit into the main church building. Meanwhile, the response is starting to downsize.
2:15 PM: Here’s the briefing video – mostly what is already reported above, except that three buildings in all were damaged:
That’s SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo. The fire’s cause hasn’t yet been determined; investigators are working on that.
TUESDAY UPDATE: We checked back today. According to spokesperson Cuerpo, “Investigators determined the fire was accidental. Originating in a kitchen, then extending to a dining area.”
3:12 PM: Seattle Fire has two incidents going right now – including a possible fire in a building in the 6700 block of 25th SW. Updates to come.
3:16 PM: Arriving SFD crews say this “appears to be someone grilling in the backyard” and they’ve canceled all but one unit.
A texter sent that photo today of charred driftwood at Weather Watch Park, to which the fire-call log indicates SFD was summoned multiple times on Sunday. The first was for this (thanks to John-Michael for the early-morning photo):
The subsequent calls were from people concerned that the burned logs were still smoldering, SFD says; the texter says that was still continuing at sunset. This comes a month after a fire burned driftwood “forts” at Lowman Beach, also very early in the morning. So far, though, SFD’s investigator hasn’t been brought into it.
9:04 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a full response to what they’re reporting as a “fire in a vacant house” on 18th SW near Thistle.
9:07 AM: Arriving crews confirm it’s a “working fire.”
9:11 AM: Radio traffic indicates this house was on SFD’s radar even before this, as they’re describing it as a “derelict building” and saying the house is a “no-entry zone.” They have water on the fire from “a safe distance away from the building.”
9:14 AM: Now firefighters are going in.
9:17 AM: Our crew has arrived; adding photos. Fire is reported under control and SFD says no one’s hurt.
9:21 AM: Neighbors tell us this house has been vacant for quite a while, and that squatters are often seen coming and going.
9:32 AM: The house’s owner is on scene too and says he’s been trying to keep it locked up. Meantime, SFD has the fire out in the basement but is still working on other areas of the house.
9:43 AM: Firefighters are starting to wrap up the response (which is a gradual process).
ADDED MONDAY: So far, investigators are ruling the cause of the fire “undetermined.”
4:18 PM: Thanks for the tip! A midsize Seattle Fire callout is on scene in the 9200 block of 14th SW. Texter reports, “Fire Dept callout on 14th is a fire on the back deck. Fire escaped the grill and caught deck and nearby tree on fire.”
5:05 PM: The call is closed. We’ll follow up with SFD.
5:30 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent the photo. SFD is on scene right now, responding to that vehicle fire in the 2900 block of (corrected) Walnut. They put it out quickly, we’re told – here’s another photo:
We’re checking on injuries.
6:19 PM: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo says no one was hurt. Their investigator was not sent, so it apparently was not suspicious in orgin.
(Sunday photo courtesy Brandon Sparks)
Sometime last weekend, before Sunday’s Junction FC match, people setting off fireworks did damage to the synthetic turf at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. The field was cleared for play, but Seattle Public Schools had to fix the damage. We inquired with the district Monday morning about the damage and the repair plan, and finally received a reply this afternoon:
Seattle Public Schools aimed to prevent issues like this by activating the LED field lights (low-energy bulbs) from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. from July 3 through July 7. Despite these efforts, turf damage still occurred. Repairs to the synthetic turf at the Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex were completed on July 8. This damage did not require us to close the field or cancel events.
Our security department welcomes any tips regarding the damage. If you have information, please contact 206-252-0707.
The field is used by private groups as well as area schools. Junction FC, meantime, has the final home matches of its season on Friday and Sunday (we’ll have more on that tonight).
| Comments Off on UPDATE: House fire in North Delridge (added: cause)