Published January 1, 2024, 1930 hours PST

SEATTLE (King County), WASHINGTON STATE

After we covered the NYE fire on December 31, 2023, and units were back in their quarters and presumably returning to sleep, bells went off again inside stations waking up firefighters for more fires and the aftermath of violent overnight scenes.

900 Block of 9th Avenue – Fire in Building

At 0406 hours PST, twenty-one units were assigned including A10 A14 AIR10 B2 B5 DEP1 E10 E2 E25 E5 E6 L1 L10 L4 M10 M44 MAR5 R1 REHAB1 SAFT2 and STAF10.

Photo Credit: Seattle Fire Department

Firefighters were on the scene of a fire in a 4-story vacant structure with heavy fire visible from floors three and four. One person was extricated from the second floor and was reported as rescued by firefighters was later changed to unknown if the person seen on the second floor self-extricated themselves or how they were able to escape the building fire. Two people in the basement were able to safely evacuate.

800 Block of Madison Street – Fire in Building

Just an hour after the second fire at 0441 hours PST, Seattle Firefighters were yet again deployed to the same area, but this time to the 800 block of Madison Street in the First Hill neighborhood, where multiple 911 calls were received in their communications center. This building was the location of a previous fire that broke out in the same structure in June of 2022, which was occupied at that time. Firefighters were very familiar with this building.

Photo Credit: John Odegard / Photo Courtesy: Seattle Fire Department

More units were dispatched, which the Fire Alarm Center or FAC dispatched 31 units, A10 A14 AIR240-260 AIR10 AIR240 B2 B5 B6 DEP1 E10 E13 E2 E22 E25 E34 E5 E6 E8 L1 L10 L3 L4 L6 M10 M44 MAR5 PIO R1 REHAB1 SAFT2 and STAF10.

At 0453 hours PST, Command requested a second alarm for additional manpower and equipment. At 0518 hours, it would escalate to a 3rd alarm fire. The fire also spread from the fire building to an exposure adjacent to it on 9th Avenue.

All residents in the exposure building were displaced due to heavy fire and water damage. The American Red Cross was requested to assist residents from the apartment building that caught fire.

Cause: Unknown, still under investigation.

North 80th Street x Aurora Avenue North – Fire in Building

This evening at 1715 hours PST, Seattle Firefighters and personnel were dispatched to a fire in a building call, which includes B4 E21 E31 L5 MAR5 and SAFT2.

Editor’s Commentary: In 2023, Seattle saw a lot of shooting and homicide victims, fires in occupied and vacant structures, property damage, garbage, homeless encampments, and illegal fires. Unfortunately, Seattle is out of control and it is very dangerous to live, play, work, and visit. It is sad when the City you have come to love over the years is too violent even for some of us who used to visit, work, and play here. Hoping 2024, is a turning point for Seattle. Our hearts are with you Seattle. You can do better and keep everyone safe.

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