Apartment Complex Fire, 66 Units Destroyed (Seattle, WA - September 1991) » Overview

An accidental fire started in a first floor unit of the %-unit Villa Plaza apartment complex in Seattle, Washington, and spread to 66 units before it was stopped. Virtually all of the other units received some damage, too. The fire started at about 2115 on a Saturday night and spread rapidly due to the extensive use of cedar siding, decorative screens and walkway ceilings. It became a five alarm fire and required three task forces from neighboring jurisdictions. This was one of Seattle’s largest residential fires in 20 years.

There were no fatalities despite the need for several occupants to jump or be dropped two or three stories to escape. A combination of Seattle Fire Department rescue efforts and tenants helping each other averted injuries.

The availability of three (emergency) ways out from each unit, the absence of interior hallways, and the occurrence of the fire while most residents were awake cut the toll of injuries.

The fire could have been prevented if the woman who started it had exercised reasonable care in using a candle for light. The fire would not have spread as rapidly if there were fewer wood surfaces on the exterior exit walkway and facade or if there had been sprinklers.

Citizens in the complex delayed calling the Fire Department by 15 to 20 minutes after the fire started, and many did not believe the building alarm and failed to react due to many prior false alarms at the site. First in firefighters found a 40-foot wide swath of flames four stories high.

The Seattle Fire Department made some excellent tactical decisions that saved part of the complex.

Staffing levels on the first three responding units may have affected the level of damage. Also, the fact that the fire occurred in the southeast comer of the City far from the center where the mass of firefighting units are concentrated meant that it was difficult to assemble the needed army of firefighters quickly, which delayed extinguishment efforts.

Losses were estimated at $3.9 million. One building was totally destroyed and two others were heavily damaged and had to be razed, two more were moderately damaged. Thirty-one cars were damaged or destroyed. There were eight civilian casualties, two serious, and two firefighter casualties, neither serious.

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