Local

Fierce two-alarm fire destroys Kent feed business

KENT, Wash. — An intense two-alarm fire destroyed a longtime Kent business Wednesday morning.

PHOTOS: Massive fire burns Kent feed company

KIRO 7 first heard about the fire at the White River Feed Company in the 27600 block of 78th Avenue South, near South 277th Street, at 5:15 a.m.

Crews encountered huge flames and black smoke when they first arrived.

Firefighters said they knew they had to fight the flames defensively given the size of the fire -- three buildings were burning -- and the age of the wooden buildings making it too dangerous to go inside. Smoke from the fire at the grain storage facility could be seen from miles away.

Roofs of the buildings have since either come down or partially collapsed.

A power line was down in the area because of the fire, and Sounder and freight trains were stopped because of the proximity of the fire to the tracks.  Train traffic resumed at around 7 a.m.

Crews continue to look for hot spots eight hours after the fire started.

No one was hurt.

Fire officials said they expect it will be some time before investigators can start looking for the cause of the fire.

The owner of the business said the grain storage facility has been there since 1914.