SEATTLE — Firefighters knocked down the massive building fire in Seattle's International District Tuesday, but the danger is far from over.
The area near Seventh Avenue and King Street is still closed to traffic and business.
Seattle fire and police set up a 60-foot barrier in case the burned-out building comes crumbling down.
Structural engineers are expected to get to the scene Thursday to survey the damage and see if the building could come crumbling down.
Firefighters haven’t been able to go inside of the building because of the risk of it collapsing.
At its peak, the fire was massive.
About 100 people in surrounding apartments and businesses had to be evacuated because of the smoke and power outage in the area.
The Red Cross said 46 people spent Christmas Eve in its shelter at the community center nearby.
The Woo family owns the building that burned.
They said no one lived in the upper levels, which were deemed unfit for living many years ago.
The Woos said no active renovation work was being done on the building at the time of the fire.
Seven businesses on the bottom floor of the building were damaged, mainly by the water needed to put the blaze out.
“My uncle owns the pet shop in the alleyway and he just got a new stock in for New Years to meet the demands,” said part owner, Timothy Woo.
Firefighters spent Thursday morning walking around the building and on the roof with thermal imaging looking for any hot spots.
The good news Thursday morning: Firefighters have not seen any flare ups inside the 104-year-old building.
KIRO
