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Three alarm fire hits Skyway apartment complex

BY Chris Sullivan  on November 22, 2012 @ 5:01 am (Updated: 8:22 pm - 11/22/12 )

A three-alarm fire swept through a south Seattle apartment Thursday morning, but firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to other units.

People started smelling smoke at the Greentree Apartments in Skyway about 2:30 am. Neighbors went door to door to wake people up because there was no alarm.

Firefighters from seven King county fire agencies attacked the fire and kept it contained to the one unit where the fire started.

"We were able to do a quick attack onto the fire and limit the fire to just that one unit, and that's what we would call a good fire stop," Dave Nelson with Skyway Fire said. "With this being an older building, it could have been much worse."

About 30 to 45 people were displaced. No injuries were reported.

The Seattle Red Cross and the City of Renton had opened the Renton Community Center as a shelter location for those displaced by the fire.

The cause of the fire is not known yet, but it does not look suspicious.

Due to the age of the building, there aren't sprinklers required.


(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
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  • not_anonymous wrote...
    And what's not mentioned is...
    November 22, 2012 8:01 am
    The local American Red Cross has a shelter open to these people and is attempting to staff it for the next few days. "Early this morning there was an apartment fire in Renton. We are currently responding on the scene but have been requested to open a shelter as well. A shelter location has been established and now we are looking for shelter workers to help. I know today is a holiday weekend, if you can help at all, please let me know. It would be so appreciated. Here is what we're looking for: Thursday (CRITICAL) 12 noon to 6pm- (at least one male and one female) 6pm to midnight- (at least one male and one female) Midnight to 8am - (Thursday into Friday) (at least one male and one female) Friday 8am to 4pm (at least one male and one female) 4pm to midnight (at least one male and one female) Midnight to 8am (Friday into Saturday) (at least one male and one female) Saturday 8am to 4pm (at least one male and one female) 4pm to midnight (at least one male and one female) Midnight to 8am (Saturday into Sunday) (at least one male and one female) Sunday 8am to 4pm (at least one male and one female) 4pm to midnight (at least one male and one female) Midnight to 8am (Sunday into Monday) (at least one male and one female) Monday: 8am to 4pm (at least one male and one female) 4pm to midnight (at least one male and one female) Midnight to 8am (Monday into Tuesday) (at least one male and one female)"
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