West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
Thanks to North Delridge Neighborhood Council’s Mike Dady for sending word that 4117 Delridge (map) is no more. It’s one of the five sites he included on the “Delridge problem properties” tour that drew two City Council members and a delegation of other high-ranking city reps a month and a half ago (WSB coverage is here and here). We reported 11 days ago that its demolition permit had been granted, to close a city-violation “unfit premises” case; also in that report, we noted that one of the councilmembers who attended the tour, Sally Clark, is taking comment on the concept of making it easier for houses like this to be demolished even if the owner doesn’t have a replacement plan.
Hot topics all over West Seattle (and beyond) today/tonight. First, three events in High Point: 7:30 am, hard-hat/sturdy-shoe construction-site tour of the LEED-Gold-to-be Neighborhood Center (more here); 4 pm, you can tour High Point neighborhoods with a focus on “how green energy initiatives create jobs, better communities, and a safer world.” More here. 6 pm at High Point Library, the King Conservation District wants to hear from you; here’s why. Speaking of libraries, at the big one downtown, the Seattle Library Board considers those behavior-policy changes, 4:30 pm (details here). And at 7 pm, be at Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) to talk about universal health care after watching the documentary “Sick Around the World.” More events for today/tonight/beyond here.
Yesterday and today saw the lowest tides of the year so far — but in four weeks, they’ll be even lower. Thanks to Charley Biggs for sharing another round of photos – above, a razor boring (according to Minette in comments) clam; next, a purple sun star:
Two more photos ahead:Read More
Update from the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting downtown (the committee includes West Seattleites Neal Adams, Cindi Barker and Pete Spalding): 
The committee unanimously approved what the Skatepark Advisory Committee recommended earlier this month – moving $250,000 to the Delridge Skatepark project, from the levy’s designated funding for a future “skatespot” at the Myrtle Reservoir park site. City Council approval is needed next. The Delridge project originally was supposed to have $700,000 funding in this year’s state budget, but that got cut at the past minute; with community enthusiasm running high for Delridge Skatepark, though, the Parks Department has been trying to find the money somewhere else, and this will be added to $500,000 that materialized when the Hiawatha Playfield improvements came in way under budget. Lots of other interesting info here tonight about plans for the park-levy money: Parks executive Kevin Stoops says that the prices for acquiring land are so favorable right now, the department could move quickly to acquire more than a few sites around the city – from greenbelts to future neighborhood parks to garden sites. (Photo from last week’s Seattle Design Commission review of the skatepark’s “schematic design”; WSB coverage here.)
We’re at the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meeting, awaiting a discussion of whether the committee will go along with the Skatepark Advisory Committee‘s recommendation to transfer money to the Delridge Skatepark project, from the unpopular-with-neighbors Myrtle Reservoir Skatespot proposal. In the meantime, we’ve heard some West Seattle news – starting with four possible P-Patches that might be funded with the $2 million “community garden” funds coming from the levy – including the site shown in Google Street View above, 34th/Barton. We reported three months ago that this 12,000-square-foot site at 34th/Barton, just east of the Exxon/Propel station, had been identified as “surplus” by the city, and comments were being sought regarding what to do with it. Many people in the comment thread following our report suggested using it as community garden/P-Patch land — and that’s exactly what’s under consideration now. The three other West Seattle sites mentioned for possible acquisition were the West Seattle Christian Church site that already is being turned into the Genesee P-Patch (which just won a Neighborhood Matching Fund $15,000 grant, by the way), a parcel in High Point, and California Place Park (we’ll be following up, but we believe they mean the “southern triangle” discussed in the recent design workshops as a possible garden site). More on these as they move through the process, and more from this meeting when the skatepark funding decision’s in. ADDED 12:52 AM: Read on for a few more details on these 4 West Seattle P-Patch sites, from the document made available at Tuesday night’s meeting:Read More
Just announced by the King County Police Chiefs Association:
CANDIDATE FORUM
FOR THE POSITION OF KING COUNTY EXECUTIVETHE STATE AND FUTURE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN KING COUNTY
Police Chief Organization Hosts Exec Candidate’s Forum
The King County Police Chief’s Association is hosting a County Executive Candidate’s Forum on Thursday, June 11th. The candidates running for King County Executive are invited to the forum, which is open to the public and press.
The Police Chief’s Association is comprised of the 34 King County police chiefs, the Sheriff, corrections professionals, as well as state and federal criminal justice partners.
The goal of the candidate’s forum is for each candidate to present their vision for public safety and the criminal justice system in King County. Questions from the chiefs will be asked of the candidates.
WHEN: Thursday, June 11, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:30 AMWHERE; Criminal Justice Training Center’
19010 – 1st Avenue South
Burien, WA
(September 2008 photo)
Last year, it was “Car-Free Day” and it was in September; this year, it’s “Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets” and it’s in May (three weeks before summer technically kicks in). Whatever you call it, this Sunday is the day when most of Harbor/Alki will be closed to most vehicles – from California Way to 63rd SW – and there are some changes this year, so we checked with the city this afternoon regarding some of the practical details. Here’s our Q/A – the questions were asked by WSB, the answers are from SDOT:
Q (TR from WSB): Will there be robo-calls again this year?
A (Dawn Schellenberg, SDOT): To help make sure everybody knows about the Alki Seattle Summer Streets and invite them to participate, approximately 1,500 calls to businesses and residents in and adjacent to Alki Avenue SW between 63rd Avenue SW and California Way SW are scheduled to go out Wednesday, between 5 and 8 PM.
Q: When will no-parking signs go up?
A: No Parking signs are scheduled to arrive Wednesday. Cars parked along Alki within the event area will be fliered Wednesday evening notifying them of the event and making them aware of the parking restrictions.
Read on for yet more Q/A: Read More
(Monday photo by Tony Bradley)
In case you were wondering – we have checked with the Seattle Fire Department to see if investigators had determined the cause of Monday afternoon’s Arbor Heights fire (original WSB coverage here). Not yet, according to SFD spokesperson Helen Fitzpatrick – they need to speak with the 34-year-old fire survivor. We don’t know how soon he’ll be doing well enough for that to happen; without his name, media can’t get information on his condition, because of privacy laws. Fitzpatrick did add that the damage estimate is now up to $300,000.
Girl Scouts of Western Washington asked if we could help spread the word on this, even though it’s not West Seattle-specific, since the camps start running next month. Scholarships of any kind are always big news, so check this out:
Girl Scouts of Western Washington is offering a scholarship to girls in grades K-12 who are daughters of disabled military personnel. This applies to girls with one parent who is disabled in some way and was or is currently serving in the military. This scholarship covers any of our camps – one or two week programs, day or resident camps. Girls needn’t be a Girl Scout to apply. You can find more details on our website: girlscoutsww.org/news/DisabledMilitaryScholarship
If you know someone who might be interested, please forward – remember that you can use the “Share This” link below any WSB post or page to forward a link in many ways, including e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, and more.
Just in case you work (or commute through) downtown and hadn’t heard about this already – or if you hadn’t heard and might want to attend – we’re the downtown bureau today as we’ve already covered two stories here with West Seattle ties and there’s one more to go (if you participate in this event, by the way, please consider sending photos – editor@westseattleblog.com):
Up to 2,000 protesters are expected to demonstrate this afternoon (May 26) in response to the California Supreme Court ruling on the Proposition 8 issue. The event is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Westlake Park. Streets adjacent to Westlake Park—Fourth Avenue and Pine Street—may be affected.
Here’s a Google News link to the latest stories from around the country regarding today’s ruling (upholding California’s anti-marriage-equality ballot measure) and reaction to it.
Saying not only – as you can hear in that clip — “I’m ready,” but also that she wants to be mayor of “all of Seattle,” with shoutouts including one for West Seattle (and South Park, which had an excited supporter shouting back from the sidelines), Councilmember Jan Drago has officially kicked off her not-exactly-a-surprise run for mayor. We were at the announcement outside the Seattle Art Museum earlier this afternoon; two of her fellow councilmembers were there to show their support — Council President Richard Conlin and Councilmember Bruce Harrell – while Harrell joined the group flanking Drago at the podium, Conlin stayed on the sidelines (he’s in the white shirt at right, in this next photo):
We saw Councilmember Sally Clark shortly afterward at the Endangered Historic Properties announcement event and asked her if she’s endorsed a mayoral candidate yet — her quote, “I’m hangin’ back for a bit,” at least until the June 5th filing deadline passes. The latest list of candidates who HAVE announced so far is on this frequently updated city webpage. Drago and her husband live in Pioneer Square; here’s her official campaign biography. ADDED 3:17 PM: She took a few questions after the formal announcement – the setting was noisy but here you can hear her field a couple from tv reporter Chris Daniels, regarding the snow response and how she differs from the incumbent:
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has just officially announced its 2009 list of the “state’s most endangered historic properties,” which includes the fire-damaged Alki Homestead – one of four Seattle “resources” on the list, along with the P-I Globe. Washington Trust sent media organizations a preview of this for planning purposes last week and we honored its requested “embargo” of the list until this afternoon’s planned announcement, which explains:
Inclusion in our annual list is intended to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities facing historic resources across the state and to encourage collaboration with all stakeholders to develop preservation strategies. In numerous instances, Most Endangered status has worked to facilitate solutions that promote the historic significance of sites while retaining important resources as viable, functional components of our neighborhoods and communities.
So what else does today’s announcement mean for the Homestead? We are at the media briefing right now and will add more later. Meantime, it’s been 4 months since the fire — blamed on an accidental electrical malfunction involving Christmas lights — that closed the Homestead. City records do not yet show an application for repair permits, but they do show that the complaint filed because of roof and window areas “open to weather” was resolved earlier this month and the case is closed.
ADDED 2:30 PM: Video from this afternoon’s announcement – starting with a special sign noting the Homestead’s inclusion, then to comments from Andrea Mercado from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:
Afterward, she told us the group has been in touch with Homestead owner Tom Lin through an intermediary, and is working with him to make sure he has all the available information regarding potential financial help for restoration. Also at today’s announcement, West Seattle-residing King County Council Chair Dow Constantine – who is on the Washington Trust board – with a few words about the Homestead and more about a Vashon property on the list, the Vashon Elementary Gym:
Read on for the full text of today’s announcement, including the complete list:Read More
Just out of the inbox:
EMC is proud to announce Total Immersion 2 on Saturday June 13th 2009, a
surround sound concert showcasing members of the Electronic Music Collective
LIVE with a unique performance by StringStation.Total Immersion 2 is an adventure into the new world of downtempo
electronic and electro acoustic music by cutting edge Seattle artists
performing live surround-sound music to striking triple-screen visuals.Special guest StringStation presents a futuristic new instrument that
involves 40 strings, digital sound modeling technology and adventursome
performance techniques . Played by its inventor, Jim Bartz, the
StringStation is sure to open eyes and ears to new music possibilities – an
amazing addition to the sound and melodic depth of this event.EMC aims to support and work alongside the local community by providing
a very unique surround-sound experience. Part of the proceeds of this event
will be donated to MusiCares who provides a safety net of critical
assistance for music people in times of need. EMC is also working in
affiliation with ‘The Body Bar Day Spa’ who will be providing chair massage
during the performance and will be handing out $25 gift certificates to the
first 20 people through the door.It is also part of EMC’s goal to educate the general public to the tools
and techniques involved in the creation of such an event. Artists will
therefore be introducing you to some of the behind-the-scenes technologies
that go into creating, experiencing and understanding surround-sound and
their individual crafts.The EMC Artists performing at this event:
David Miles Huber (DMH) is a professional musician in the downtempo
dance genre, who has produced CDs that have sold over the million mark. His
latest music and latest collaborations can be heard on the 51bpm label and
his myspace page. He has authored numerous books on the subjects of
recording and electronic music. His most prominent book Modern Recording
Techniques www.modrec.com is the standard recording industry text worldwide.Henta is a singer/songwriter and recording artist, originally from the
UK, who works with a wide range of producers and writers. She released her
latest dream-pop/electronic album ‘Daisy Dancing’ in March 2008 which
recently became ‘Grammy Eligible’ and she is about to release her third
album focusing on relaxation/meditation and chakra activation.Marcell Marias is a Hungarian-born musician, sound designer and producer
living in Seattle. His style could be described as visual electronic music
and includes ambient, downtempo, house, breaks, IDM, and drum & bass.
Several film and video productions feature music and sound design by Marias.
For his live performances, Marias uses several controllers hooked up to
Live, usually performing in surround with visuals.Ludington GT a Seattle based DJ, Producer, Composer and Electronic
Artist who has been focusing in recent years on the production and
performance of his own original house music. Ludington GT is a regular
fixture on the west coast regional Burningman performance circuit where he
DJs and performs live PAs of his original music on laptop, keys, effects,
and vocals.Concert details: Total Immersion 2 will be held on Saturday, June 13,
7-10 pm (with intermission) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center 4408 Delridge
Way SW, West Seattle.Event Tickets : $10 donation (includes a “free” EMC compilation disc).
‘The Body Bar Day Spa’ will also be handing out a $25 gift certificate to
the first 20 people through the door on the night. Advanced Tickets are
available through Brown Paper Tickets – Limited seating available so please
book early!
Side note to one of two incidents from last night that we reported thanks to WSB’ers’ notes (before the Alki car-in-water): We’ve now learned that one of the two men booked into jail after being caught inside a stolen vehicle on Harbor Ave is 18-year-old Skyelar Hailey. 
You may recall, he is the repeat offender most recently arrested and jailed last month after allegedly fleeing police who tried to arrest him on warrants. Days after all that, on April 24, he was sentenced (WSB coverage here) for a trespassing conviction resulting from an Admiral case last November, and received “community service” provided he stayed out of trouble; he was released from jail May 2. This morning, we are told he was a passenger in the stolen Ford Explorer stopped on Harbor Ave after 9:30 last night; just after 2 am, he was booked into jail, and the register shows he’s there on a “probation hold” (linked to the November Admiral case). We’ll be checking with prosecutors to see what happens next. (Photo by Christopher Boffoli, from Hailey’s April 24 sentencing)
Thanks to Sue for that photo of the no-parking signs up along the northernmost stretch of the Fauntleroy Way repaving zone, where the city had planned to start work today (we’re heading back out shortly to check what is or isn’t going on). While the entirety of the project will run from roughly SW Edmunds to SW Holly, the first round of restrictions is posted for Edmunds to SW Findlay, today through June 15th. Here’s our report from last week with details of the plan for the start of construction (with more details on the repaving and “rechannelization” that will happen as part of the project, as first announced by the city late last year).
(video added 4:47 am, wrecked Porsche after it was pulled out of water and up over seawall)
ORIGINAL 2:32 AM REPORT: “Water rescue” call right now in the 1100 block of Harbor Alki Avenue. Here’s what we are hearing on the scanner: Somebody drove into the water and his car — a Porsche Carrera, unless what we are hearing on the scanner is a joke — is about six feet under; divers are going in to make sure the driver’s alone, which is what he has told them. More as we get it. 2:37 AM UPDATE: Divers have confirmed nobody’s in the submerged car. 3:10 AM UPDATE: We’re at the scene – the car really is a Porsche and really is less than 10 yards offshore, underwater; it went over the seawall in the condo zone.
(video added later, best shot we could get of the car, submerged:)
The driver’s been taken to the hospital – the medic unit passed us as we were arriving here about 20 minutes ago (TV crews are here too). Police have reopened the road; City Light’s also here because the car took out a power pole before going over the wall. Now police are strategizing with a tow crew how they’re going to get the car out. 3:54 AM UPDATE: Two police divers are in the water, where they will attach cables from a bigger tow truck that’s come in; we’re with TV crews awaiting the big pullout attempt – might be about 10 more minutes. If you’re seeing this “live,” KIRO does news at 4:30 am so that may be the first place you see video. Lt. Ron Smith has spoken with us at the scene, by the way, and says the driver, in his 50s, was taken to Harborview Medical Center for observation, and will be tested for possible intoxication. (Added later, clip from Lt. Smith’s briefing:)
(this clip also added later) Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen was at the scene for a while too — she explains what SFD rescuers saw and did upon arrival:
4:24 AM UPDATE: The mangled Porsche is out. We’re on our way back to upload video from HQ. 4:59 AM UPDATE: Adding clips, as promised. Atop this post, it’s the car right after pullout; here, the last haul up over the wall:
Also added a few clips in the middle. To fill in one of the blanks: The car was heading north/eastbound on Alki when it “went straight where there’s a curve,” as Lt. Smith put it. As for the driver’s condition, no formal word, but as SFD’s Vander Houwen said, he did NOT have “life-threatening injuries.”
10:28 AM UPDATE: SPDBlotter has summarized the incident briefly with a few additional details: The driver was 54 and is described as having ultimately determined to have been “uninjured”; the item says, “Investigators believe drugs and/or alcohol in addition to speed may have contributed to the collision” (pending test results). Plus, specifics on the car: A 1991 Porsche 911.
11:09 AM NOTE: A comment recalls a deadly crash in the area a few years ago. To be specific – according to this brief item from WSB’s first year – 2 people were killed in September 2006 when their car went into the water across from 1238 Alki, less than a block west of this morning’s crash site.
City Councilmember Jan Drago is planning to officially announce her run for mayor outside the Seattle Art Museum this afternoon. But it’s already “official” online. First, independent journalist Johnathon Fitzpatrick discovered over the weekend that the Twitter account @jandrago4mayor was set up. Then, the mostly-politics website PubliCola found Drago announcing her impending announcement on Facebook. And this morning on Twitter, Lee Therriault (@leetherriault) has just pointed out that Councilmember Drago’s mayor-campaign website is fully operational now too (see it here), fronted by what may be the speech she gives this afternoon (in which, among other things, she says she’s running to be the Mayor of West Seattle, and other neighborhoods).
Thanks to Greg Wright for sharing photos from his low-tide sightseeing on Sunday; just before 1 pm today, the tide will be just as low as it was around noon yesterday (chart here), and that’s the lowest tide of the month before the low tides start getting higher again. A few more of Greg’s photos, ahead:Read More
It’s been a big year for West Seattle churches with big history to celebrate. Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) and West Seattle Baptist Church celebrated centennials within the past year – Alki UCC celebrates its centennial next weekend (and posted in the WSB Forums recently seeking wedding photos to feature) – centennial events are about to begin at Holy Rosary with a Homecoming Mass/Luncheon June 7 (details here) – and since Tibbetts United Methodist Church (left) has 100 candles on its birthday cake too, they’re inviting you to a big event coming up next weekend:
Tibbetts Has Talent!
Tibbetts United Methodist Church is hosting its Centennial Talent Show & Ice Cream Social on Sunday, May 31st at 3pm. This fun-filled celebration includes a variety of drama, music and more.. and will be held in Adams Hall, entrance by the reader board sign. There’s an ice cream social following the Talent Show featuring fantastic flavors from Husky Deli. We hope you’ll join us!
Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW (map).
FIRST REPORT, 10:28 PM: Just got a note about a hit-run driver damaging cars near Charlestown Cafe. Stacy reports, “Many in the street trying to figure out what happened. Glass all over the road on California.” Listening to the scanner, police are now checking on a report elsewhere in West Seattle of a driver getting out of a car and discussing having been in a crash. More info as/if we get it. (added later – here’s an account from Ranette, one of the hit-run victims):
I was driving the first car hit by this driver. Driving south on California, I had been at the PCC with my friend. I heard the tires screeching behind us and then felt the hard impact (back of my car). I tried to keep from hitting the cars parked on California Avenue. I think I glimpsed a dark car. I pulled over and we got out. There were a lot of people outside who had heard the accident. A few had seen it and described a dark or black hatchback hitting my car then trying to regain control to take a quick left off of California onto Bradford??? (street north of Andover). Apparently, the driver did not have much control and knocked down a stop sign which hit two parked and unoccupied cars (but I did not see this only informed by witnesses and police officer). The driver kept going. The police officer said they had just heard of a car with the same description driving on three wheels. What a horrible feeling to be in an accident like this. It felt like the car came out of nowhere and hit us so hard. It is especially disturbing that the other driver left the accident location. My friend and I were wearing our seatbelts, as usual, and we are so glad we were. The rear of my car is pretty damaged but not so bad that I could not drive home.
SECOND REPORT, ADDED 11:34 PM: Received a note from a Harbor Ave resident troubled by what she saw tonight and wondering if there are any Block Watch groups in her area. We referred her to Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Benjamin Kinlow but also are sharing her story as it relates to some of what was discussed at the Alki Community Council meeting last Thursday – read on (1:52 am note, we’re also adding info just received from police on BOTH these incidents):Read More
Thanks to Benita for the tip that in turn led us to the news that West Seattle has two softball teams in state tournament play – West Seattle High School and Seattle Lutheran High School. WSHS is in the 3A tournament, starting play Friday vs. Columbia River at SERA Fields in Tacoma (brackets here); SLHS is in the 2B tournament, starting play at 9 am Friday vs. La Salle at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima. Both teams are mentioned in this story posted today on the West Seattle Thunder Fastpitch organization site, noting that 22 current and former WS Thunder players are in state play, representing schools including WSHS and SLHS. Good luck to all – we’ll post updates!
With the retiring of the colors, this year’s West Seattle Memorial Day commemoration at Dignity Memorial/Forest Lawn concluded a few hours ago. Veterans young and old were among those at the event – from a man in a “KOREA VET” cap, heard discussing the North Korea missile test, to Iraq War veterans like City Council candidate and former Highland Park Action Committee chair Dorsol Plants (who served for five years, until 2007). Another younger veteran on hand was Christopher Shea, commander of American Legion Post 160, which presents this ceremony each year; he recounted the reason for the holiday:
Today’s special guest speaker was Vietnam War veteran Margarita Suarez, who recalled her harrowing work as a nurse, sharing memories with a message that had some in tears:
The simple spirit of patriotism imbued the service, including singalongs led by guest vocalist Tom Carlisle:
And Scouts from Troop 284 performed wreath duty (listen for the crows):
Other participants in the ceremony included Pastor Tom Isenhart and musician Jim Edwards, who played “Taps.” This is the 82nd time the Post has presented this service — one of the longest-running Memorial Day events in the Seattle area.
(Above photo by Tony Bradley, added 12:51 pm)
(photo by neighbor Nathan, added 12:36 pm)
ORIGINAL 12:13 PM REPORT: Thanks for the calls, texts, e-mails, etc. – on our way to a house fire in Arbor Heights, 35th/108th (map). More momentarily. Several reports describe it as “big.” 12:19 PM UPDATE: From Seattle Fire spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen: When firefighters arrived, they found a fully involved 2 story single family residence and two cars on fire. Nearby homes were threatened so they went into defensive mode, protecting them. A 34-year-old man — found outside the house — has “life-threatening injuries” from burns, but she says everyone else got out OK. And she says the fire is under control. 12:24 PM UPDATE: Co-publisher Patrick has just talked with Vander Houwen at the scene and she says people are being kept far back (traffic is closed for blocks around) because there IS (as posted in comments) “a SUSPICION of a meth lab being involved.” This is as close as we’ve been allowed to get:
12:39 PM UPDATE: In comments, Cliff writes:
We live across the street we left as soon as we could. I heard people yelling and went out my front door to see the house behind our neighbor’s house fully engulfed in flames. And I could hear small explosions taking place. We took our valuables and pets and left immediately. For years our neighbors have suspected drug activity in the house. I would not be anywhere near the fumes.
Another neighbor, Nathan, has sent photos via Twitter and we have added one at the top of this report. More than half a dozen police cars are at the scene as well as the sizable Fire Department presence. As of about 12:40 pm, the SPD Arson and Bomb Squad also has arrived. 12:54 PM UPDATE: Tony Bradley has sent photos – closest ones we have seen yet – we have added one at the top of this report and here are a few more:
Investigators have not been able to get into the house as hot spots remain but the Arson/Bomb Squad specialists are likely to try shortly, according to what we are being told on the scene.
1:12 PM UPDATE: Just in case you have seen “shots fired” reports anywhere: We asked, and there is NO indication any gunshots were involved here, according to what authorities are telling us at the scene. That early report of “sounds like gunshots” is believed to have been from potential small explosions neighbors heard while the flames were raging. Police spokesperson Mark Jamieson tells WSB the first call to police was from a neighbor who thought he heard a shot — minutes before smoke from the fire started pouring skyward — but it’s now believed that was likely a popping sound related to the fire. He also says he has no information at this point on any possible past drug activity at the house and at this point, “this is a fire call, with SPD assisting.” If investigators find evidence of a crime, of course, that status may change, and we will continue to monitor. We are also still at the scene, where the media’s been allowed to get a somewhat closer look at the fire aftermath.
1:40 PM UPDATE: Here’s one of those photos we just got – first of the house and cars, post-flames:
No official word yet on the condition of the burned man but he was said to be in pretty bad shape as he was rushed to Harborview Medical Center.
3:11 PM UPDATE: No official updates from fire/police recently but we’re going back to the scene to see if there’s anything new to learn there. Meantime, here are a couple clips from earlier in the afternoon – first, SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen giving the toplines as they were known at the time:
Second, an even closer view from the same vantage point of the photo we added at 1:40 pm (above):
3:42 PM UPDATE: Roads in the area have just been reopened. Not much fire/police presence left at the scene. Adding another aftermath photo:
6:03 PM UPDATE: Latest from the Fire Department: The cause remains “undetermined,” and spokesperson Vander Houwen says she’s unlikely to have final word on the cause tonight – she says investigators still need to do “additional interviews” as they try to sort out what happened. The damage estimate at this point is $250,000.
10:01 PM UPDATE: This evening’s police update is basically “we’re still working with the Fire Department, but it remains primarily their investigation, and there’s nothing new to say” (our paraphrase). Our next update most likely won’t be before tomorrow morning, at which time we’ll start a new followup story. But in the meantime, we are reposting this comment that has just come in from “Neighbor”:
I’m not sure what all was written above but I’ll tell you my story and I was the first one to get to the burn victim.
I was doing yard work when I heard someone yelling help me, help me. I live on the next street over and ran to help him. I was the first person to get to him and he was sitting on the door steps of the house directly next door screaming for help. As I approached him he got up and started walking towards me and I along with another neighbor were trying to get him to sit down. He had terrible burns on his chest, hands, arms, some on his head, and really it was so crazy I was not trying to see where else. His skin was peeling off, really terrible terrible. He sat for a moment in the road from 108th to his house but then got up again and continued to the main street. Again we were trying to get him to sit but he was yelling help me (there was nothing at all we could do at that point we were waiting for help to come). He then started yelling to give him a car…..aparently he thought he would drive himself to a hospital. A man in a van stopped in the road and he got out to see if he could help. The burn victim then made a dash to the car (which I believe and someone else also agreed that there were kids in the back of that car) which was still running in the middle of the street to steal it so he could drive to a hospital. The owner of the car had to forcefully get the victim away from his car which was really sad to see because as we all knew the victim was in total shock. He then made his way up the street and finally sat at the corner of 36th and 108th street until the first fire truck showed up and then he walked down to it where they started treating him.
The stuff about the meth lab. NO, the house was not a meth lab, police and firemen I spoke with have all said there was nothing at all that indicated it was. The reason that got out is because there had been major concern that it might be by neighbors and police who were very familiar with the victim. In fact a police officer asked him very directly if there was a meth lab before sending in firemen!
There were many many explosions and so far all thoughts about what those were are speculation. There have been people who said that they saw spray paint cans exploding and there were two cars with gas cans that probably exploded. More explosions sounded like either firecrackers or maybe bullets but who knows for sure!
I spoke just an hour ago with fire units still at the house and from talking to them and seeing the damage it looks like it started at the car he was probably working on in his carport. The car lid was open and the damage was clear that it started there.
There was damage to the house directly next door but not really too much. Some homes have smoke issues but they all seem to be minor.
We heard that the mother was not in town and had just recently paid off the house and they were doing remodels on it like a new deck last week and new windows.
Also talking to one of the first responders they said that he had about 70% burns on his body (yes I can say it looked like that), and that due to the chest burn, the amount of burned body, and the possibility that he inhaled when he was on fire or burning he has a very serious uphill battle for his life. Those are not my words those are the words of a first responder who worked on him.
I am absolutely horrified by what I saw today and for what that man is going through. There has been lots of speculation about him being a guy who was not the best of neighbors but everyone I’ve talked to is nothing but concerned for his well being and feel horrible about it. I can tell you that everyone in the neighborhood is pulling for him and he and his family are in our prayers!
I don’t know if that clears anything up, but I’ve never been this close to a story like this and I thought I’d tell it the way I saw it and I saw the whole thing from the beginning.
More tomorrow, including, we hope, an update on the burn victim.
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