Spontaneous combustion of garbage caused shipping container fire

Shipping containers on fire near the Duwamish Waterway sent thick smoke over West and South Seattle on Monday.

Firefighters determined a spontaneous combustion of garbage caused the fire. See photos here.

The shipping containers were stacked as high as a four-story building on a barge at Alaska Marine Lines. Crews sprayed water on all sides of the barge; the fire was in the middle of the stack.

A Seattle Fire Department public information officer said the containers have multiple uses, which range from carrying residual tanks of propane and diesel fuel to garbage.

The 53-foot-long containers were half filled with propane.

Seattle Fire Department confirmed that units started fighting the container fire in the 5600 block of West Marginal Way Southwest around 3:30 p.m. on Monday.

The thick smoke disappeared around 5 p.m., but the response to the blaze remained a top priority for firefighters. Seventeen engine companies responded, which is half the department.

The half-filled 53-foot long containers are dangerous because when they get hot the vapor becomes hazardous and explosive.

When the shipping containers are cool, crews will remove them.

"Once we get the fire cooled down, then port people can bring in their big container removers," said lieutenant Harold Webb. "Once we get those separated, we should be able to get to this fire pretty well knocked down and out."

Reporter Gary Horcher was on the scene when firefighters declared the fire under control. Boats and engines still poured water on the containers as of 5:15 p.m.

The Coast Guard sent a crew to the fire to maintain a safety zone 1,500 feet wide around the fire.

They left after no pollution was found.

Cox Media Group