People found living inside Tacoma’s historic Temple Theatre after roof fire — city orders them out

The City of Tacoma has ordered several people illegally living in the historic Temple Theatre to move out, as the property was never intended to be a residential building.

According to The Tacoma News Tribune, authorities discovered several renters after an electrical fire broke out on the theater’s roof last month.

Officials said the building’s never been registered for residential use, and they have no record of tenants living there. There is no power in the building, and officials said it’s hazardous to live there.

The city ordered the owner to provide relocation assistance to the tenants, or face fines of $250 per day. After 10 days, that fine could increase to $500 a day.

It’s unclear how many people are living in the theater.

Tacoma Fire says ‘nothing suspicious’ after blaze at historic building

Investigators are leaning toward an electrical issue as the most likely cause of a two-alarm fire that erupted on the rooftop of Tacoma’s historic Temple Theatre in May.

A final determination is expected as early as Wednesday, the Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) said.

“There’s nothing suspicious about this fire at this time,” Chelsea Shepherd, a spokesperson for TFD, told KIRO Newsradio.

The blaze broke out around 4:30 p.m. at the building at 47 St. Helens Ave., which also houses the Landmark Convention Center. The fire was under control by 5 p.m. and fully extinguished by 7:30 p.m.

No injuries were reported.

“Knowing that they have done renovations up there on the roof to add that deck and that extra event space, odds are high that it’s probably going to turn out to be an electrical issue,” Shepherd said.

All fire and smoke damage was confined to the rooftop deck and event space, Shepherd said. Water damage from firefighting efforts extended to the fifth and possibly fourth floors.

Designed by architect Ambrose J. Russell, the building was constructed in 1927 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

Neighbors step up to help Tacoma’s Temple Theatre

Neighbors are already mobilizing to help. Sunrise Play Café, located directly across the street, launched a GoFundMe campaign within hours of the fire, calling the theater “a cornerstone of the village we are all building together.”

“A village protects what it loves. Today, the Temple needs us,” the fundraiser page stated. “Every dollar raised goes directly toward helping offset the costs of this fire so that the Temple can recover, rebuild, and open its doors again.”

The fire department said it will post updates on its X account once the final investigative report is released.

Contributing: Aaron Granillo, KIRO Newsradio

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