Ballard brewery damaged by fire started by homeless person seeking warmth

SEATTLE — Chilly winter nights in Western Washington have some folks doing no matter they’ll to remain heat.

However one of many homeowners of Dangerous Jimmy’s Brewing Co. in Ballard stated what seemed to be a warming hearth nearly price him his enterprise.

Jason Shrum, one of many brewery’s co-owners, stated the hearth was caught on surveillance and will have been a lot worse.

“An individual had entered from over in that path, had walked into right here, arrange store in our beer backyard and lit it on hearth,” Shrum stated. “It seemed like they piled it up on the desk after which lit it ablaze, whether or not it was a lighter or no matter to make use of, nevertheless it began an enormous hearth.”

He’s nonetheless shocked that his enterprise is standing as a result of he estimated the flames have been about 4 toes excessive.

“Had it gotten any larger and truly lit certainly one of these tents on hearth, not solely our place however the neighboring locations might have been broken as effectively,” he stated.

The hearth began at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Hours later, CJ Daugherty, the taproom supervisor, walked in to discover a mess.

“So I come across the nook, and it’s an enormous mountain of ash beneath the desk that’s utterly scorched after which particles sort of alongside the again wall there some torn up mesh the place the embers went up,” Daugherty stated.

Fortunately the injury was minimal.

“This has been what’s stored us alive, and figuring out that it was only a few embers away from being utterly gone was a bit upsetting,” she stated.

Shrum stated he believed the particular person was attempting to maintain heat however stated what occurred was not okay.

“I attempt to be on the facet of compassion, however you recognize, generally it’s troublesome when particularly you are available, and your house has been lit on hearth,” Shrum stated.

He stated he hopes folks will make the most of the warming shelters supplied by King County.

“I don’t know what the reply is, I simply make beer, however yeah, you get actually conflicted between wanting to assist and wanting to guard every part that you just’ve labored for as effectively,” Shrum stated.

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