One person is dead after an early-morning fire tore through an apartment building near Wright Park in Tacoma on Wednesday, May 27. Tacoma Fire crews rushed in to battle heavy smoke and flames while neighbors gathered on nearby sidewalks, watching the scene unfold. Officials have not released the identity of the person who died.
What officials said
According to KING5, firefighters discovered one person dead inside the building after they knocked down the blaze. Tacoma Police secured the perimeter while investigators moved through the scene, searching the building and preserving evidence. City officials kept public comments brief as the investigation got underway.
A separate deadly blaze this spring
This is not the first deadly apartment fire Tacoma has seen this spring. On April 3 a blaze on North Pearl Street killed one person and displaced several residents, as reported by The News Tribune. Investigators in that case pointed to a wall heater as a possible ignition source. Three units were damaged, and the American Red Cross stepped in to help tenants who were forced out. That earlier fire was a stark reminder of how quickly a small ignition source can put older residential buildings in serious danger.
What happens next
The Tacoma Fire Department and police say the cause of Wednesday's fire remains under investigation, per KING5, and officials have not released additional details. Neighbors told reporters the early-morning response shook them, with sirens and smoke cutting through the usual quiet. Local agencies typically coordinate with nonprofits to assist anyone displaced. This story will be updated as authorities share more information.
