FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — A large fire destroyed three buildings and four Friday Harbor businesses early Thursday morning.
Herb's Tavern, Crows Nest Coffee Shoppe, Crystal Seas Kayaks, and the Windermere Real Estate building were destroyed in the blaze.
The fire was called in around 3:30 a.m. by a tow truck driver. It quickly spread through the old wooden buildings.
No injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The town's Facebook page issued a warning, asking people to avoid the downtown area if possible as firefighters battled the fire on the north side of Spring Street between Front Street and First Street.
"It looked to me when I left that they had at least enough support going on, but it was engulfing the roofline of Windermere [Real Estate building]," resident Tom Henry told KING 5.
Crews were using a foam substance to tackle the flames, which worried some residents about potential chemical contamination in Friday Harbor.
The Department of Ecology (DOE) said there is no information on the substance's toxicity, but fire crews worked to minimize the flow of any debris into the harbor's waters.
"San Juan Emergency Management and the San Juan Fire Department have put in protective booming to minimize the flow of ash and debris into Friday Harbor. Currently, no oil or hazardous substances are involved," said DOE Communications Manager Jasmin Adams in a statement.
Washington State Ferries (WSF) warned travelers of potential delays because boats were being used to shuttle firefighters and additional resources to San Juan Island.
Firefighters from San Juan Island, Orcas Island, and Lopez Island responded to the fire. Crews from the Suquamish and Tilikum vessels also assisted in the response.
The Seattle branch of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also responded to Friday Harbor to help investigate the cause of the fire.