2-Alarm marina fire in the University District – Fire Line

Seattle — This morning around 2 a.m., the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received 911 calls reporting multiple boats on fire in a marina at the 700 block of NE Northlake Way. The first units on scene confirmed that approx. 30 boats (previously stated 42, but revised after further analysis from our fire investigators) on a dry rack storage facility were fully involved in the fire and extending to an adjacent warehouse. Firefighters worked quickly to get water on the fire and searched the warehouse to confirm no one was inside.

At 2:18 a.m., the Deputy Chief took control of the incident and upgraded it to a 2-alarm response requesting additional resources to fight the fire, including Fireboat Chief Seattle and Seattle Police’s Harbor Patrol. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Ecology also responded to the scene to provide assistance in deploying buoys to prevent hazardous chemicals in the boats on fire from spreading into Portage Bay and Lake Union. The Seattle Fire Department uses foam to aid in fire suppression. It is environmentally safe and biodegradable.

Crews had the fire under control by 3:30 a.m. Several units remain on scene to extinguish hot spots and monitor for flare ups. An approx. 40-year-old male was found in a boat docked nearby the fire and was escorted by Seattle Police out to safety. Paramedics transported him to Harborview in stable condition, and Seattle Police are conducting a follow up investigation.

A total of 14 fire engines, 5 ladder trucks, Fireboat Chief Seattle and additional support units were dispatched to the scene consisting of approx. more than 100 personnel. No additional injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.