Seattle firefighters are mopping up after a 3-alarm fire at 208 N 85th in central Greenwood that has destroyed two businesses.
The first call came out just after 4 this morning, and it took firefighters until 7 a.m. to get the fire under control. PhinneyWood, which has been covering the story all morning, is reporting that Pho Tic Tac and the Green Bean Coffeehouse were completely destroyed, while Taproot Theatre appears to have been saved from the flames. Watch video of the fire here.
3-alarm fire destroys Greenwood businesses
I've been posting updates here but I'll post in the comments section of this story starting now.
The fire appears to be in several of the buildings just to the west of the Greenwood Beauty School.
City Light has arrived on the scene.
“The hand held hoses are overshooting the building. They need to shorten their arc.”
The Water Department says that they have “opened a few more valves” and water pressure should be improving.
Command says that they have opened a couple of other hydrants in the area as well.
Firefighters on the scene have been instructed to maintain a “collapse zone” in anticipation of the walls collapsing.
City Light is preparing to “dump the power” to the buildings, but it will shut down about a two block area. They are trying to find a way to shut down just the buildings effected by the fire.
Fire is now attempting to evacuate the apartments exposed to the fire, and the cats in cages at the PAWS storefront on Greenwood.
On scene time is now one hour.
Dispatch advises that they are getting Animal Control for help evacuating the cats in cages.
Command advises that they are making progress on the fire, and that the exposed buildings are still intact.
The apartments in the exposed buildings have now been evacuated. Dispatch was unable to contact anyone at Animal Control, so one of the engine companies has been put in charge of evacuating the cats in cages from the PAWS storefront on Greenwood.
Some good pictures are up over on the Phinneywood site.
Command has requested that Natural Gas be turned off to the fire area.
I'm now posting in the comments section of this story over on Phinneywood.
So sad. I will miss the Szechuan Bistro and their hot and sour soup that has saved me from many colds.
Thank you Silver for your outstanding coverage of this fire. You are a true asset here.
Is the fire near the Taproot Theater?
Oh, I hope that's not true that they're gone. We love SzBistro!
On no! I love the greenbean, and the woman that runs it is so sweet!
Is this arson again in the area?
Oh, no! I just recently discovered Green Been Coffee House! Hope everyone got out alright (especially the kitties).
I agree with Becca. Your scanner reports are the first thing I check after e-mail.
Everyone did get out all right, even the kitties. A fireman twisted his ankle, and that was the only physical injury.
If you go over and read the comments on phinneywood.com someone is setting up a bank account for donations.
Taproot's theater is a mess, but I've heard rumors of other theaters offering to share space with them. Isn't that cool?
Very cool. Taproot is a great little theater and I'm happy they're getting the support right now. I've been reading the Phinneywood stuff too, and the neighborhood support is incredible.