Seattle, WA

Officials concerned by surge in abandoned building fires in Seattle

Published

2 years ago

April 24, 2024

Officials concerned by surge in abandoned building fires in Seattle

Seattle Fire Dept. concerned by surge in vacant building fires

Alarmed by the growing number of fires at abandoned properties, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins is supporting a new strong-armed solution that cracks down on private property owners in favor of public safety.

SEATTLE – Alarmed by the growing number of fires at abandoned properties, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins is supporting a new strong-armed solution that cracks down on private property owners in favor of public safety.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is on board, pushing for emergency legislation that would amend the city’s fire code to order and complete demolition of unsafe buildings.

“We’re still watching the rise in these fires,” said Scoggins to the Seattle City Council Tuesday morning. “Clearly to me that says we need to do something different to solve the problem.”

According to Scoggins, in just the first four months of this year, his crews responded to at least 30 different incidents at vacant buildings across the city. The data collected by Seattle Fire over the past three years highlights what Scoggins calls an escalating hazard. Back in 2021, crews were sent out 70 times to extinguish fires at derelict properties. In 2022, about 20 more. By 2023, the number had jumped to a staggering 130.

The issue isn’t unique to Seattle, as evidenced by a recent fire in Tukwila, where a vacant property became engulfed in flames.

“This is a building that has had previous fires in it,” explained Pat Pawlek with Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority. According to Pawlek, homeless people were scrambling out when crews arrived.

The City of Seattle has highlighted at least 100 blighted properties in desperate need of a tear down.

“[The] last thing that I would want is any of our firefighters or community member to be harmed when we could have taken a very intentional step to solve the problem,” stressed Scoggins.

IT is a regional problem, now with a local fix. The emergency legislation, backed by the mayor, would allow for the demolition of hazardous properties, with the costs passed back to the owners if they fail to comply.

“If we can’t gain compliance, we shouldn’t leave these properties to be open-accessed,” pointed out Scoggins.

Three trapped after car goes into ditch near Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum

Published

12 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Three trapped after car goes into ditch near Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum

SEATTLE — Firefighters are responding to a car that drove into a ditch near Lake Washington Boulevard East and East Foster Island Road on Friday, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

Crews arriving at the scene reported that three people are trapped inside the car.

Firefighters were working to stabilize the car and get everyone out safely. Crews worked to remove the roof of the car to get everyone out, according to fire officials.

Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area while emergency crews respond.

The crash occurred in the area between the Montlake and Broadmoor neighborhoods, and traffic can be expected as emergency crews respond.

No additional information was immediately available.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Kraken fall to Blues 5-1 in 2nd straight loss

Published

24 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Seattle Kraken fall to Blues 5-1 in 2nd straight loss

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Dylan Holloway had a hat trick and added an assist in his return from a sprained ankle, Joel Hofer made 23 saves and the St. Louis Blues came off the Olympic break to beat the Seattle Kraken 5-1 on Thursday night.

St. Louis Blues 5, Seattle Kraken 1: Box score

Jordan Kyrou and Holloway — activated from injured reserve before the game — scored in a 23-second span early in the second period to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.

Pius Suter added a goal and two assists to help the Blues end a three-game losing streak.

Holloway completed St. Louis’ first hat trick of the season with 3:01 left, scoring into an empty net for his 11th of the season.

Kaapo Kakko tied it at 1 for Seattle in the first period, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots. The Kraken were coming off a 4-1 loss in Dallas on Wednesday night.

Kyrou made it 2-1 at 1:12 of the second off a feed from Pavel Buchnevich on a break. Holloway poked the puck past Grubauer off a scramble at 1:35. Suter scored at 1:56 of the third.

St. Louis’ Cam Fowler appeared in his 1,100th game, becoming the 10th active defenseman in the NHL to reach the mark.

Up next

Kraken: Host Vancouver on Saturday night.

Blues: Host New Jersey on Saturday.

Seattle Kraken sign forwards Ben Meyers, Ryan Winterton to 2-year extensions

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Seattle, WA

Projected Lineup: Feb. 26 vs. Seattle | St. Louis Blues

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Projected Lineup: Feb. 26 vs. Seattle | St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are back in action as they host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at Enterprise Center (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, 101 ESPN).

It will be the team’s first game since Feb. 4, and Jim Montgomery said the squad is ready to get back to work.

“Yeah, I think everybody is,” the head coach said. “I mean, you can tell. Guys were anxious today, but it’s like ‘enough of practicing against each other, it’s time to play a game.’”

Captain Brayden Schenn, who missed Wednesday’s practice with an illness, took the morning skate and is expected to play. Dylan Holloway (ankle), who has played just one game since Dec. 12, will make his return to the lineup as well.

Robert Thomas has taken a leave of absence due to a personal matter. He’s expected to return to the team on Friday.

Additionally Jack Finley will make his Blues debut. Finley – who is the son of former Blue Jeff Finley and was born in St. Louis – was claimed off waivers by the team on Feb. 7.

“It was a dream of mine to play for this team,” Finley said. “It was a big part of my childhood, big part of my family’s life. So definitely full-circle moment and proud to be a Blue.”

Jeff, who played defense for the Blues from 1998-2004, will be in the building Thursday night to see his son don the jersey he wore for so many years.

“He was excited,” Jack said about his dad. “Maybe more excited than me. He loved this organization, loved this city… He’s excited to be back.”

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