Early Friday morning, a significant fire wreaked havoc on a storage facility in University Place, leading to extensive damage and the closure of multiple roads. West Pierce Fire & Rescue mobilized quickly upon being alerted to the blaze, which was reported around 3:52 a.m. at a location on the 2400 block of 70th Avenue West, FOX13 Seattle reports.
The intensity of the fire prevented firefighters from entering the building and necessitated an external attack on the flames. Assistant Chief Scott Adams of West Pierce Fire and Rescue highlighted to KING5 that the storage unit was "very full," providing ample fuel for the fire. In the aftermath, a total of eight units were confirmed to have been destroyed.
The firefighting effort required the closure of both 70th Avenue West and 24th Street, with local authorities advising motorists to avoid the area and seek alternate routes. Responders from multiple units, including Tacoma Fire, were called to the scene, and the fire was declared under control at approximately 6 a.m., as conveyed by MyNorthwest.
Although the building was deemed a "total loss" by West Pierce Fire & Rescue, there are no injuries reported, and the fire's cause is currently under investigation. As crews continued to work at the scene, the roads remained closed, and the public was asked for continued cooperation. "The fire is under control. Unfortunately, the building is a total loss," a statement by the agency was referring to the scale of the devastation, shared by FOX13 Seattle.
