Seattle Iconic Theatre Sees Final Show

December 25, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

The Seattle Fire Alarm Center also known as the FAC began receiving multiple calls from reporting parties of a structure fire prompting Firefighters and equipment to be dispatched. Resources were dispatched on Thursday, December 24th at 1146 PT to the 900 block of NE 50th Street in Seattle’s University District.

This is the location of the Seven Gables Theatre, a formerly iconic and very well-loved venue that has been boarded up and closed for several years.

SFD’s Engine 31 was the first due on-scene reporting a well-involved fire with flames visible and heavy smoke from the 2nd floor of a commercial structure. Building was deemed to be vacant and no reports of people inside.

More resources arrived on-scene soon after but were forced to go into defensive fire attack operations, where they used various master streams from ladder trucks placed in strategic positions and pouring water over the fire building.

By 1300 hours PT and firefighters still working put out the stubborn fire, Command requested via the FAC to escalate the incident to a 3rd alarm. This would bring out additional resources totalling more than 130 firefighters, 14 fire engines, six ladder trucks and additional support units.

After pouring an extensive amount of water on the fire, twenty minutes later the roof began to collapse prompting resources to be repositioned outside of the collapse zone in a safety zone. At 1402 hours PT, Command asked for a PAR or personnel accountability report to verify all firefighters were accounted for, which they were.

The fire was brought under control at 1410 hours PT with some units were released from the incident and returning back in service. An engine and ladder truck were left in place overnight for fire watch which includes any rekindling.

In the end, no injuries to firefighters or citizens were reported.

No exposure buildings were also said to have no damage or destroyed by this fire.

Dispatched Units were all from the Seattle Fire Department: E31, B6, E38, L9, A25, Air240 and 260, B2, Deputy1, E21, E40, E9, L10, L8, M1, M44, Mar5, Rehab1, Safety2, Staff10, E16, M31, B4, E17, E22, E9, B2, E10, E18, E2, E25, L4, L5, PIO, E13, L3, E8, SQ10, E82 and M17.

There is no cause at this time.

About the Fire Building

The Seven Gables Theatre was built in 1925 that was said to be originally an American Foreign Legion dance hall but would later be converted in 1976 by 7Gables Founder R. Finley into a theatre named The Seven Gables Theatre. At the time, it was said to be built with half-timber to resemble a Swiss chalet featuring a gabled roof and a brown-shingled facade. The main venue was said to have a romantic medieval fresco on the single-screen as it represented a castle and damsel.

Current Picture — Credit: King County Tax Assessor

The theatre was a very loved iconic local attraction with a one-of-a-kind vintage experience for film enthusiasts and known for showing a great variety of foreign and independent films.

Today, the 9,487 square-foot building is owned by 2929 Productions LLC, based out of Los Angeles, California and recently assessed by the King County Tax Assessor with an assessed value of $2.7 Million up in value from $2.3 Million in 2019.

The building closed in 2017 for refurbishment but has remained vacant for the last several years.

It is located in the heart of the University District on the corner of NE 50th Street and Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

This is a developing story. More updates will be provided as information is received.

Dramatic Seattle Icon Up In Smoke

December 24, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Firefighters and equipment were dispatched on Thursday, December 24th around 1146 hours PT to a fire in a building call. The fire was located in the 900 block of NE 50th Street in the University District area in Seattle, Washington.

Units first arriving on-scene reported a fire near a commercial building at 1154 hours PT. Within three minutes of the report, crews confirmed smoke and flames were visible on the 2nd floor of the vacant commercial building, the former Seven Gables Theatre.

Due to hazardous fire conditions and deemed too dangerous for interior operations, Command called for defensive tactics by dumping large amounts of water resources over the fire building. Several other exposure buildings were being also being protected by personnel.

Still fighting the fire, at 1247 hours PT, Command escalated the need for additional resources through the City’s Fire Alarm Center or FAC as they are called to bring it up to a 3rd Alarm incident. This prompts the FAC to dispatch a larger amount of personnel, equipment and the Department’s Public Information Officer (PIO) to the scene.

About 110 minutes into the incident at 1358, firefighters were beginning to get a good knockdown on the fire and were hoping to have it brought under control within 15 minutes thereafter. They were dealing with a lot of hot spots.

At 1402 hours PT, Command asked for a PAR or personnel accountability report to verify all firefighters were accounted for, which they were.

Seattle Fire PIO states the fire was brought under control at 1410 hours PT with no injuries being reported.

Seattle DOT closed the eastbound and westbound lanes between 8th Avenue NE and Brooklyn Avenue NE, as well as southbound on Roosevelt being blocked at NE 55th Street and 7th Avenue Avenue.

About the Fire Building

The theatre was a very loved iconic local attraction with a one-of-a-kind vintage experience for film enthusiasts and known for showing a great variety of foreign and independent films.

The building closed in 2017 for refurbishment but has remained vacant for the last several years.

It is located in the heart of the University District on the corner of NE 50th Street and Roosevelt Way NE in Seattle.

This is a developing story. More updates will be provided as information is received.

Seattle Fire Sees Increased Arson Fires

December 13, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Seattle Fire released a statement on their website with a news release of how the Central District area has been impacted by a rash of arson fires since December 4, 2020.

Seattle Fire officials are currently working with the Seattle Police Department’s Arson and Bomb Squad.

The arson fires occurred at these locations:

150 Block of 12th Avenue | December 4, 6. Car Fires

900 Block of Hiawatha Place South | December 6. Motorcycle Fire

1100 Block of 21st Avenue South | December 8. 2 Debris Fires next to a building under contstruction

1400 Block of South Jackson Street | December 8. Storage Shed Fire

16th Avenue South and South Main Street | December 8. Motorcycle Cover Fire

19th Avenue South and South Jackson Street | December 8. Debris fire

If you see something, say something and call 9-1-1 to report it.

Firefighters Respond to Dumpster Fire

December 12, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Seattle Firefighters are responding to a dumpster fire in an alleyway in the 2600 block of 4th Avenue with multiple callers into the Fire Alarm Center.

Engine 2 has arrived on-scene.

Fire Investigator, Marshal 5 has been requested in addition to Seattle Police.

This is a developing story.

Pre-Turkey Day Fire Erupts

November 25, 2020November 25, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SEATTLE, Wash. | Firefighters and equipment were dispatched to a residential structure fire located in the 10000 block of Sand Point Way NE at 2021 hours on Wednesday, November 25, 2020.

FIRE BUILDING

The fire building is a 3 bedroom and 1.75 bath home with 1,600 square feet with a basement, main floor and attic. It was built in 1939, with a finished basement and underground parking garage. The lot size is over 7,000 square feet.

RESOURCES

Units dispatched were Seattle Fire’s Aid 25, Air Unit 10, Battalions 2 and 6, Deputy 1, Engines 16, 24, 31, 38, 40, Ladders 5 and 10. Medics 17 and 44 (Supervisor), Marshal 5 (FIU Investigator), REHAB 1 (Fire/Medical Rehab), Safety 2 and Staff 10.

FIRE OPS

Water Supply – Established with E39 taking a secondary hydrant.

Search and Rescue – Ladder 5 did a split search from floors one to two completing their task quickly, with nothing found. Primary and secondary searches were completed of the whole structure.

Command – Battalion 6 assumed command at 2033 hours.

Per scanner traffic, visible flames were reported to be out the basement windows when first due units arrived. Crews did not find any extension to the attic or to the knee walls. The fire was knocked down less than 15 minutes.

Ventilation operations with fans was tasked to Ladder 9.

Units were starting to be released by Command within 20 minutes from the original dispatched call time.

CAUSE

At the time of this post, the cause and preliminary damage to the the property and contents were unknown.

The Seattle Fire Investigator, Marshal 5 was on-scene.

INJURIES

No reports of injuries to firefighters or citizens was reported by the Seattle Fire Department.

UPDATE

An update will be posted when information has been received.

Seattle Has 2nd Alarm Fire

October 24, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Firefighters were dispatched on Saturday, October 24, 2020, at 1620 hours PT to a vacant building located in the 400 block of 7th Avenue South in Seattle, Washington.

At 1633 hours, 7th Avenue Command upgraded the call to a 2nd Alarm fire incident sending out additional resources and equipment.

First and second alarm Seattle Fire units include: E10, B6, E5, L1, A10, Air10, B2, Deputy1, E2, E25, E6, L10, L6, M10, M44, MAR5, REHAB1, Safety2, Staff10, L3, Air240-260, B6, E13, E22, E30, E34, L6, L9. PIO and L4.

2nd Alarm units were quickly code green at 1638 hours PT.

A small fire was said to be burning at the time of the stairwell on floor three but would be knocked down relatively fast. Command called it a tap fire at 1642 hours.

MAR5, Seattle Fire’s Investigator was on-scene to determine what the cause of the fire is and its origin. At this time, there is no preliminary cause to report.

Just like when they train and drill, SFD’s crews focus on suppression and containment applying quick egress efforts. Actions of firefighters quickly stopped the spread to other connected exposures and limiting damage to the structure overall.

There were no reports of injuries to firefighters or civilians.

ABOUT THIS FIRE BUILDING

This building is located in the 400 block of 7th Avenue South in the heart of the Sodo (industrial) area of Seattle. This structure is listed as a brick building that was built in year of 1920.

According to 2020 assessed King County tax records, this is the home to the Republic Hotel, a rooming house on the top three floors of the building, a retail store on the street level and an unfinished basement.

However, when firefighters arrived – they stated this is a vacant building.

Here is a current photo of the vastly 7,680 square multi-level building that was touched by fire this afternoon. It is said to be valued at $2.3 Million according to a 2020 assessment.

Photo Credit | King County government

Nice work, Firefighters and saving another Seattle iconic structure.

4 SEATTLE BUILDINGS TORCHED | 2

August 20, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Seattle Firefighters were dispatched to an early morning to a 3-alarm blaze that caused heavy fire damage to four buildings under construction in the 1000 block of Sturgus Avenue South on Thursday, August 20, 2020.

Dispatch sent resources at 0542 hours PT.

The Battalion Chief responding to the scene could see a black thermal cloud in the Beacon Hill area and immediately called for a 2nd alarm. At the height of the incident, it had reached a total of 3-alarms, emptying out half of the City’s stations. Other units from outside the area responded to CODE RED move-ups to back fill areas to continue with uninterrupted calls for service.

Two eastbound lanes in the interchange on I-90 and I-5 were ultimately shutdown by WSDOT and WSP on I-90 as large burning embers spotted from the top of the Beacon Hill side and raining on drivers down below. One eyewitness said it was like driving in the middle of the forest on fire.

Traffic was held for about twenty minutes, then reopened again by the WSDOT Incident Response Team and Washington State Troopers.

Photo Credit | Seattle FDIn all a total of four buildings were heavily damaged. The cause is unknown and under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s office.

There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported.

Resources dispatched to this structure fire were A10 AIR10 B2 B5 DEP1 E10 E25 E30 E5 E6 L1 L10 L3 M1 M44 MAR5 REHAB1 SAFT2 STAF10 AIR240-260 B6 E2 E28 E34 E36 L4 PIO R1 E16 E22 E9 E26 E13 L13

Fire originally was dispatched at 0542 PT.

4-Alarm Fire Burns Under Construction Buildings, Fire Apparatus

July 16, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

Everett, Washington State | Firefighters were dispatched around 1750 hours to a large residential structure under construction in the 1700 block of West Marine Drive in Snohomish County, where first due crews reported a well-estabished fire was observed.

This took place on Thursday evening, July 16, 2020.

There were 53 fire apparatus on scene and approximately 73 fire personnel on scene from the Everett Fire Department and mutual aid agencies. pic.twitter.com/GfCKTOkXe7

— Everett Fire WA (@EverettFire) July 17, 2020

The Fire Department then changed it to the 1300 block of West Marine Drive.

This is listed to the Waterfront Place Apartments, which are under construction. Fire units went into an immediate defensive strategy.

A PIO was immediately dispatched to respond to the fire ground.

=============== About Structure ===============

Photo Credit | Everett FD

Per Apartments.com, these apartments were scheduled to come online in 2021 with 266 units and a total of four-stories. These buildings 1300 and 1400 blocks of Marine View Drive in Everett, WA 98201. These were scheduled to be studio to three bedroom units. They are located in the norwestern portion of the City.

=========================================

The structure fire was so intense that it was now wind-driven and spotting. The wind had picked up some hot burning embers blowing them across West Marine Drive to the east towards Grand Avenue Bluff.

This caused a brush fire and caused minor damage to a home down the street. Firefighters were able to save the home.

Additionally, the fire was escalated to a 4-alarm over time throughout the incident prompting the deployment of all available Snohomish County units as mutual aid to respond.

Fire officials say it is too early to determine the cause but it is under investigation.

After the fire was brought under control, it was assessed as two 4-story units under construction burned and one burned to the ground. It’s intensity scorched and blew out the windows of a ladder truck and damaged a nearby parked aid unit.

One firefighter suffered minor burns as he was trying to move the aid unit to a more safer distance away. Both of the rigs have burns and melted components.

A total of 73 fire personnel along with 53 pieces of apparatus were assigned to this incident along with mutual aid from all over Snohomish, North and South King Counties.

Personnel represented the Everett FD, City of Everett, Renton RFA, Renton Firefighters, Tukwila Fire Department, Puget Sound Fire and King County Medic One (Paramedics).

Several Task Forces such as Bothell Fire, Woodinville Fire and Shoreline Fire helped staff Everett Fire Stations.

A Zone 3 Urban Task Force from the Seattle Fire Department arrived within the City limits as mutual aid and responding to 9-1-1 calls for service.

Most of the units have returned back into service (2145PT). Some units will remain on-scene for fire watch and addressing leftover spot fires.

Fire Images of the 4-Alarm Everett structure fire this evening:

pic.twitter.com/6mHMG6EzCr

— Everett Fire WA (@EverettFire) July 17, 2020

Photo Credits | Everett FD

Through The Eyes of Social Media

“Large fire on Everett’s waterfront. Burning debris found as far as 18th and Colby. Ash covering roads, yards and home.”

“Power out all over North Everett.”

“Some of those who keep their boats at the Everett Marina were close enough to the fire to having to spray down their boat to keep it cool. The Marina is up river from this fire scene.”

“Fire could be seen fro Howarth Park.”

Lake City Apartment Catches Fire, Prompts Fire Response

April 26, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Firefighters were dispatched to a fire in building call on Sunday early evening around 1846 hours PT.

The incident occurred at a privately managed apartment building in the 3000 block of NE 140th Street in Lake City, about eight miles north of downtown Seattle.

Units dispatched were: A31, AIR10, B2, B6, DEP1, E16, E17, E24, E39, E40, L10, L5, L9, M17, M44, MAR5, REHAB1, SAFT2 and STAFF10.

First due Engine 39 reported light smoke from a two-story 100×100 wood frame apartment building. They assumed command and E40 established a water supply.

All occupants self-extricated themselves from the apartment unit.

No injuries to firefighters or citizens were reported.

The fire was quickly under control and later tapped.

Some units returned back to service, while Seattle Fire’s Marshal 5 remained on-scene investigating the cause. No preliminary causes have been released at the time of this post.

Seattle Firefighters Dispatched to Heavy Rescue Call

April 25, 2020 / NW Fire Blog (TM)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Seattle Firefighters and assets were dispatched through the Fire Alarm Center on Saturday at 2018 hours PT to a heavy rescue – major call with five vehicles involved.

A report of a vehicle with one of them possibly cut in half was dispatched out over the air.

When first due resources arrived, it was immediately known to be a single vehicle with a deceased occupant inside. A second person was safely extricated and both were transported to the hospital.

The incident occurred in the location of 3400 block of Airport Way South.

It was quickly downgraded to a heavy rescue only.

Units dispatched were: A10, A14, Air10, B2, B5, Deputy1, Engines 13, 27, 36, 5, 6; Ladders 1, 3; Medic10,; Rescue 1, Safety 2 and Staff 10. Additional units were also tied to this incident: M44, Aid 5 and Engine 10.

No word on what caused the vehicle to crash or what it crashed into was released by Officials at the time this post was published.

Seattle Police will be investigating.

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