SEATTLE — A vacant building near Seattle's Rainier Beach neighborhood caught fire early Wednesday morning, the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) confirmed.
Crews first responded to the building around 5:30 a.m. after callers reported heavy smoke emanating from it. Flames could be seen coming through the roof once crews arrived, and water was poured on the fire from a safe distance, an SFD spokesperson told KING 5 at the scene.
Crews did not enter the building due to a risk of collapse. SFD also told KING 5 that a nearby station keeps track of vacant buildings in the area, and this structure was known to SFD. It has been vacant for over a year, SFD said.
The fire was upgraded to a 2-alarm blaze and drew nine fire trucks and five support trucks, SFD said. Approximately 70 firefighters ended up responding to the scene, per SFD.
The building was formerly home to the Seattle Indian Health Board's Thunderbird Treatment Center, records show. Mount Baker Housing announced plans to re-develop the property in 2022 for affordable housing.
No injuries were reported from the fire, but crews do remind nearby residents to close their windows as smoke continues to come from the building.