The second alarm dispatch had been for Engines 26 and 27 and
Ladder 3.
The streets on the east and west side of the complex were deadends,
impeding access and placement of the additional vehicles.
Most of the first and second alarm crews were assisting with rescues.
Several handlines and monitors were deployed. The Fire Department
made at least seven rescues of people in imminent danger and assisted
many others during the course of the fire.
At 2153 the Acting Deputy Chief (Donald Taylor, Battalion 1)
arrived at the scene, about 16 minutes after the first units were dispatched.
He found the south wing of the complex (Building C) fully involved with
the fire “raging out of control.” The southwest wing (Building B) was
heavily involved, and the fire was progressing toward the southeast section,
under a southwesterly wind. Ladder 12 and Ladder 3 were rescuing victims
from the east wing. He requested a fourth alarm within a minute after
arriving. Engine 36 was positioned on the north side of Building C in the
courtyard and attempted to stop the fire from spreading to the east
building. Another company was designated to cover houses across from
the south exposure of the complex (and did so successfully).
Within 40 minutes of the first call, the fire was made five alarms,
Seattle’s highest category. Units continued to be added after this.
It was apparent by this time that it would not be possible to
undertake a meaningful attack on the fire in the main building, and that
the available water and room to attack the fire would be better used as a
defensive operation to save Buildings A and E, and to salvage as much of
Buildings B and D as possible. After initially being the focus of the attack,
Building C was left to bum.
Interior attacks were made on each floor of buildings B and D, and
from the apartments on the south ends of Buildings A and E on every
level, and from the exterior with monitors. The battle switched to a
defensive fight.
The acting chief of the department at the time of the fire, Deputy
Chief Steven Bailey arrived at about 2155 and took over the Incident
Command System which had been established by the first-in Battalion
Chief, and passed to the acting Deputy Chief (Battalion 1).
The ICS worked well in this incident. As the size of the force and
complexity of the operation increased, two branch commands were
established: Branch A on the south side of the building, and Branch B on
the north side.
Throughout the incident, couplings and manifolds had to be hosed
down to keep them from igniting from radiant heat.
The Fire Department was under great pressure from the media and
public during this operation. The fire was being televised while the
inhabitants watched the fire spread toward new areas of the buildings.
The Fire Department saved almost all of two buildings (A and E)
and half of two more (B and D) though the latter two were ultimately
razed. The fire was brought under control at 0156 on Sunday and
extinguished except for spot fires at 0357, almost six hours after it started.
Next » Logistics
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