A four-alarm fire tore through a vacant warehouse on the city’s east side overnight, sending a column of smoke visible for miles. No one was injured, fire officials said Wednesday morning. More than 80 firefighters spent the night battling the blaze, which lit up the sky over the old industrial district and sent smoke drifting across three neighborhoods before crews brought it under control in the early hours.
Crews arrived at 11:42 p.m. and had the fire under control by 3:30 a.m. Residents within half a mile were asked to keep windows closed while air-quality monitors checked for hazardous smoke. By sunrise, the warehouse’s roof had collapsed, and firefighters were still pouring water onto smoldering sections of the building’s interior.
A long night on the east side
The first 911 calls came in shortly after 11:30 p.m., according to the city’s emergency dispatch center. Callers reported flames coming from the roof of the long brick warehouse and heavy smoke spreading over nearby streets. The first engine company arrived at 11:42 p.m. and immediately called for additional help as the fire spread through the building’s upper floor.
Within an hour, the fire had been raised to four alarms, bringing engine and ladder companies from across the city. At its peak, more than 80 firefighters were on the scene, along with paramedics, police officers managing traffic and utility crews who shut off gas and electricity to the block.
Because the building was vacant and its roof was considered unstable, commanders decided early to fight the fire from outside rather than send crews deep into the structure. Ladder trucks aimed heavy streams of water from above while engine companies worked to keep the flames from reaching nearby buildings.
Protecting the homes next door
The warehouse sits at the edge of the industrial district, separated from a row of single-family homes by a narrow alley. Fire officials said keeping the fire from crossing that alley was their top priority throughout the night. Crews positioned hoses along the alley and soaked the roofs and siding of the closest houses to prevent embers from igniting them.
Residents of about a dozen homes nearest the warehouse were asked to leave as a precaution and waited at a nearby recreation center, where volunteers handed out blankets and coffee. Most were allowed to return home by early morning.
Our crews did exactly what they train for. Keeping it from jumping to the homes next door was the whole night.
Chief Elena Ross
Smoke and air quality
The thick smoke drifted east and south through the night, carried by a light breeze. Residents in three neighborhoods reported a strong burning smell, and some said ash had settled on cars and porches by morning.
The county health department set up portable air-quality monitors at several locations within half a mile of the fire. Officials asked people in that area to keep windows and doors closed, turn off fans and window air conditioners that pull in outside air and limit time outdoors until readings improved. Health officials said readings had largely returned to normal by mid-morning Wednesday, but they advised anyone with asthma, heart conditions or other breathing problems to take extra care.
Advice for nearby residents
The county health department shared general guidance for residents near the fire:
- Keep windows closed until the all-clear is given for your area.
- Rinse ash off outdoor furniture, toys and vegetable gardens with a hose before using them.
- Avoid sweeping dry ash, which can stir fine particles back into the air.
- Check on older neighbors and those with breathing conditions.
- Call your doctor if you experience coughing, wheezing or chest discomfort that does not improve.
Officials stressed that this guidance is general and that residents with specific health concerns should contact their own health care provider.
Cause under investigation
Fire Chief Elena Ross said investigators had not yet determined how the fire started. The building, a former furniture warehouse, had been scheduled for demolition next month.
Ross said the department’s fire investigation unit would begin examining the site once it was safe to enter, which could take several days because of the collapsed roof and unstable walls. Investigators will look at possible sources of ignition and interview neighbors and anyone who may have seen activity near the building in recent weeks.
Neighbors told reporters that the warehouse had been empty for several years and that they had occasionally seen people going in and out through broken doors and windows. Ross declined to speculate about the cause and said investigators would follow the evidence.
The building’s history
The brick warehouse was built in the early 20th century and for decades stored furniture for a regional retailer that has since closed. The property changed hands several times after the retailer left. Its current owner, a development company, had obtained a demolition permit earlier this year and was planning to clear the site for new construction. A representative for the owner said the company was cooperating with fire officials.
Vacant buildings and fire risk
The fire has renewed questions among neighbors about how the city monitors vacant buildings. Several residents said they had reported broken doors and windows at the warehouse over the past year. City code requires owners of vacant properties to keep them secured, and the building department said it would review its inspection records for the site.
Fire officials have long warned that empty buildings present special dangers. Without regular activity, small fires can grow unnoticed, and firefighters entering a vacant structure may face weakened floors, hidden openings and unstable roofs. That is one reason commanders chose an outside attack on Tuesday night. Ross said keeping her crews safe while protecting nearby homes was the right call given the conditions.
A council member who represents the east side said she planned to ask for a briefing on vacant building inspections at the next public safety committee meeting.
Cleanup and road closures
Two nearby streets will stay closed through Thursday while crews remove debris. City officials said heavy equipment would be brought in to pull down unstable sections of wall and clear the sidewalk. Drivers were asked to follow posted detours, and two bus routes will be rerouted around the area until the streets reopen.
Here is what residents and commuters should know for the rest of the week:
- The two streets nearest the warehouse remain closed to traffic through Thursday.
- Two bus routes are detoured; riders should check the transit agency’s service alerts.
- Residents may hear heavy equipment during daytime hours as walls are taken down.
- Air-quality monitors will remain in place until debris removal is complete.
A neighborhood exhales
By Wednesday afternoon, the smoke had mostly cleared, and neighbors gathered along the barricades to look at what remained of the warehouse. Several said they were relieved that no one was hurt and that the homes next door were spared.
One resident who has lived on the block for more than twenty years said she watched the firefighters through her kitchen window for most of the night. She said she planned to bring cookies to the nearest firehouse later in the week. Fire officials said the department expects to release more information once the investigation into the cause is complete.
