News

Fire damages Lake Union warehouse

SEATTLE — A fire damaged a Lake Union warehouse Saturday afternoon, said the Seattle Fire Department.

The incident happened at Modumetal at 1443 North Northlake Way.

Crews responded to the location after a report of a fire at the building.

As firefighters arrived, a large plume of dark smoke could be seen coming from the building. There were flames still inside the warehouse.

“Once we were able to get inside, there was a good amount of smoke and flames coming from the back of the warehouse,” said Kyle Moore of the Seattle Fire Department.

Officials told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Deborah Horne that a nickel cobalt compound fell onto the floor of the building.

“Because of the nickel cobalt, we still have somewhat of a hazard, and we don’t want people close to it without a breathing apparatus because they don’t want people breathing it,” Moore said.

No one was inside the building during the time of the fire.

The EPA and US Coast Guard were called because there may have been contamination since the incident happened near the water.

“We saw smoke start and then it became really profuse and very black, and actually it blocked the water view,” said witness Julie Allen. “It was smoke, like it was coming out of a vent. First I thought it was a furnace or something then it became much more intense.

Fire investigators determined the cause of the fire was from an electrical arc to industrial plating equipment.

Damages were estimated at $150,000.

Crews had to close off North Northlake Way, but later reopened it.