Building fire near downtown Tacoma sends smoke into city while crews battle flames

Peter Talbot
·2 min read

Update, 3:25 p.m.: Firefighters were still extinguishing hot spots at what remained of the building by the afternoon, and Fire Department spokesperson Joe Meinecke said crews might work into the evening and overnight to monitor it. He said the building was a total loss.

Runoff from the fire response sent water and debris streaming into downtown. City Environmental Services crews were called to clean up the mess.

It’s still unclear what caused the fire or if anyone was inside when it started. Meinecke said it was so far too dangerous for crews to search the property. He said excavation equipment was requested to demolish walls of the building that could collapse.

Original story: A building fire Tuesday near downtown Tacoma made for a smoky morning in the city while Fire Department crews worked to get the blaze under control.

A Tacoma firefighter hands his crew member a drink while fighting a large commercial building fire at the 700 block of Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma, Wash. on March 21, 2023. Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Joe Meinecke said no injuries have been reported, but crews aren’t sure whether anyone was inside when the fire started. He said the building is supposed to be vacant.

The fire was reported at a commercial building near Fawcett Avenue and South 7th Street shortly after 6 a.m. Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Joe Meinecke said no injuries have been reported, but crews aren’t sure whether anyone was inside when the fire started. He said the building is supposed to be vacant.

Meinecke said residents in the path of the smoke should keep their doors and windows shut.

Firefighters entered the building to put out the fire, Meinecke said, but the ceiling began to collapse and crews were pulled out. He said since then, crews used ladder trucks and other rigs to douse the building from above and from the sides. Meinecke estimated 35-40 firefighters had responded to the scene, and he said crews were trying to control the fire at about 8:30 a.m.

Tacoma Avenue was shut down near the building while firefighters worked, according to police.

Tacoma firefighters battle a large commercial building fire at the 700 block of Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma, Wash. on March 21, 2023. Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Joe Meinecke said no injuries have been reported, but crews aren’t sure whether anyone was inside when the fire started. He said the building is supposed to be vacant.
Tacoma firefighters battle a large commercial building fire at the 700 block of Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma, Wash. on March 21, 2023. Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Joe Meinecke said no injuries have been reported, but crews aren’t sure whether anyone was inside when the fire started. He said the building is supposed to be vacant.

It’s not clear how the fire started or where it originated in the building. Meinecke didn’t have an estimate for how long it would take for crews to extinguish the flames. A photo shared by police showed heavy smoke pouring out of the building. Other images shared by residents online showed clouds of smoke over downtown.

“Once we get it all knocked down, we’ll do a primary search and obviously work on the investigation,” Meinecke said.

Nearby buildings, including a law office and several apartment buildings weren’t threatened by the fire, fire crews said. Residents in those buildings were reportedly told to shelter in place.