Three-Alarm Fire Destroys Warehouse in Ballard-Fremont Area as Smoke Blankets Surrounding Neighborhoods

Rick Jones, who was working about half a block away at a nearby worksite, said the fire escalated with striking speed. “Very intense, a lot of heat, smoke started going, we started backing up out of the way, we didn’t want to get hurt or anything,” Jones said. He watched as windows blew out and the roof collapsed, capturing footage of the blaze on his phone. Jones said the building had stood for roughly 100 years and was constructed of old glass, timber, and concrete. “It just got hot really quick and didn’t take long for it to go up in flames,” he said. He also reported hearing explosions during the fire, which he attributed to equipment stored in the warehouse including plumbing supplies and water heaters.

Seattle Fire Department Public Information Officer Kaila Lafferty said wind conditions significantly complicated the response. “The wind was making it really challenging, causing the fire to spread quickly,” Lafferty said. A fireboat was deployed to the Ship Canal to fight the blaze from the water and draw additional supply.

Residents in the surrounding blocks described seeing what they initially thought was an unusual cloud formation before realizing it was smoke from a major fire. Lafferty praised those who called 911 quickly, saying the early response helped get crews to the scene as rapidly as possible.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.