The 4-alarm fire that damaged several buildings and vehicles in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood on Nov. 10 was intentionally set, according to investigators.
Three structures and two large sheds filled with lumber were destroyed in the fire. The total loss to all structures impacted by the fire is estimated at $4.3 million, according to Seattle Fire Department Chief Harold Scoggins.
Seattle police are conducting a follow-up investigation.
“It ended up being a fourth alarm assignment. That is significant for the city. That is the first time since 2010 that we actually had a fourth alarm assignment. In the city. What that meant was, we had approximately 51 units here on scene, 142 personnel, 17 engines, 10 ladder trucks, and a number of other ancillary vehicles supporting the operation,” said Chief Scoggins.
There were no reported injuries.
Chief Scoggins said investigators looked at surveillance footage and talked with different people to determine the fire was intentionally set.
The fire started around 8:40 p.m. in a lumberyard warehouse on W. Ewing Street. Seattle Fire reported crews saw flames up to 100 feet high when they first arrived.
The fire impacted five structures owned by Gascoigne Lumber Company and Northwest Millworks. Two of the structures collapsed. The massive amount of combustible materials caused the fire to spread more quickly, Seattle fire said.
The four-alarm fire impacted power service in the area, knocking out electricity to some residence halls at Seattle Pacific University campus. Some residents were forced to leave the buildings.
