Three dead in 3-alarm fire at Tukwila apartments

Firefighters in Tukwila continue to fight a 3-alarm fire at a Tukwila apartment building that killed three people, including a man, woman and a child.

Evacuations have been ordered for adjacent apartment buildings and properties, as well as the area below the building, due to an unstable hillside caused by water from firefighting efforts.

Tukwila Fire Chief Jay Wittwer said the fire started just after 5 a.m. Tuesday at the Maple Crest Apartments on 65th Avenue South near South 151st Street.

The fire started in the back of the building, which is difficult for fire crews to access, because there is a sheer drop-off of 50 to 70 feet directly behind it. Firefighters are unable to surround the fire and water can only be dropped from one direction.

Wittwer said because of the large amount of water being used to fight the fire, there is concern that the hillside below the building is eroding and could come down onto Interurban Avenue South, along with the building. There is also the possibility that the building could collapse onto Interurban even if the hillside does not.

The current fire fighting efforts are a delicate balance between using water and compromising the hillside behind the building. The risk of building collapse and sliding onto Interurban Ave. Structural and Geotechnical Engineers are on scene and advising fire ground operations. pic.twitter.com/3QwywoN0Q2

— ZONE3PIOs (@ZONE3PIOs) August 17, 2021

Evacuations were ordered for the 15900 block of Interurban, which is closed between Fort Dent Way and South 144th Street.

Units from multiple fire departments are at the scene.

KIRO 7 video showed flames and large plumes of smoke rising from the building shortly after the fire broke out. As of noon, more than 7 hours later, flames were still burning a large portion of the roof.

Wittwer said 31 of the 32 units in the building were occupied. There was initial concern that some occupants were missing, but fire officials said all other residents have been accounted for.

The woman, man, female child who died were trapped in a unit.

Four people were treated by medics at the scene. Video showed a rescued cat also being treated by medics.

Current conditions below the fire scene on Interurban. Please stay out of the area. Interurban is closed between Fort Dent Way and South 144th St. Structural engineers are meeting with command staff now. pic.twitter.com/jYFUw9PJCF

— ZONE3PIOs (@ZONE3PIOs) August 17, 2021

Units from multiple fire departments on scene of a working 3 alarm fire in @tukwilafd. Currently attacking fire, treating injuries and performing rescues. PIO on scene media area is at S 151 and 65th Ave S. pic.twitter.com/n7vtcV1FT8

— ZONE3PIOs (@ZONE3PIOs) August 17, 2021