Seattle's waterfront got an unwelcome jolt Tuesday evening when firefighters rushed to the 4400 block of 15th Ave NW after reports of a fire aboard a docked vessel, officials said. Crews converged on the scene and authorities urged people to steer clear of the area while firefighters worked the incident. As of Tuesday night, officials had not released word on any injuries or what started the blaze.
Crews are responding to reports of a fire on a vessel docked in the 4400 block of 15th Ave. NW. Please avoid the area.
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) https://x.com/i/status/2077206969690280355
In a brief alert on social platform X, the Seattle Fire Department told residents, "crews are responding to reports of a fire on a vessel docked in the 4400 block of 15th Ave. NW. Please avoid the area," X showed. The city's realtime 911 system listed a "Marine Fire On Shore" response at 4401 15th Ave NW and showed multiple engine companies, marine units and a fireboat among the units dispatched, according to the Seattle Fire realtime 911 log.
Why crews use marine units
Boat and houseboat fires can escalate quickly and bring the added risk of fuel spills and other toxins getting into the water. In a May 2024 Lake Union houseboat blaze, more than 75 firefighters and several marine units responded, and officials deployed flotation booms and notified the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Ecology to limit contamination.
For Tuesday's incident, authorities urged people to avoid the docks while crews worked, and drivers in the area were told to expect delays. This story will be updated as officials release more details on the fire and the response.
