Destructive 2-alarm fire considered ‘arson’

SEATTLE — A fast-moving fire badly damaged a multi-unit building under construction on 23rd Avenue South and South Plum Street in Seattle.

No one was hurt, but damage is estimated at $3 million.

No one saw the building go up, and that allowed the fire to burn fiercely even before firefighters could arrive.

“I just heard kind of like a crackling noise,” said Jonathan Luong, “and then I heard like some fire trucks coming.”

Luong awoke early Saturday morning to Seattle firefighters battling a fire raging across from his house on South Plum Street.

“It seemed like it was very much a challenge for them, definitely,” he said.

It woke up Gilberto Banda too. He worried that his vehicle might go up in flames.

“So I went in,” said Banda, “moved my car and got my phone. I said I have to record this.”

The 911 call came into Seattle Fire Department at about 3 a.m. Saturday that a multi-unit building was on fire.

By the time firefighters arrived, the flames were racing through the structure that was still under construction.

So they worked to put out the flames before trying to go inside.

In the light of day, fire investigators determined it was intentionally set, but they did not say how.

“They may have information on what was used to set the fire,” said SFD’s Kristin Tinsley. “But we’re not able to release that publicly to make sure we are not hindering the investigation.”

The fact that this is now being called arson does not surprise Luong.

“Yeah, just from the way it looked, it was pretty big,” said Luong. “So yeah, my first instinct was not to think it was some sort of accident or something.”

He said it looked like the fire had been set.

“Yes,” he said. “Yeah. I think that’s a fair assumption.”

Indeed, neighbor Jude Watson said this has been happening a lot lately in this neighborhood.

“I think it’s mostly been like commercial buildings or like unoccupied residential areas,” said Watson. “I don’t think it’s necessarily affected like residents in their homes. But it’s just pretty scary to have it happening in the area.”

SFD stated there are ways to prevent devastating fires, such as installing motion sensor lights, locking all access points and installing a security system.

This case has been turned over to Seattle police.

Since no one saw who started this fire, anyone who knows anything about the fire is asked to call 911.

Cox Media Group