MYNORTHWEST NEWS

One dead in Tacoma apartment fire near Silas High School

Apr 3, 2026, 9:17 AM | Updated: 10:15 am

One person died in a fire that broke out Friday morning at an apartment complex in Tacoma.

“The fire originated in that third-floor unit, but, because it was burning in the floor, kind of in between units, it impacted the floor underneath it as well,” Chelsea Shephard, the public information officer with Tacoma Fire, said at the scene.

The fire, now extinguished, happened on Pearl Street near Silas High School. The building was evacuated.

“I was asleep, and then I heard the firefighters knocking on the door, shouting, ‘Fire!'” Catherine, who lives two floors down from the unit that caught fire, told KIRO Newsradio. “I could smell the smoke from inside, but nothing was really apparent on the outside, until a bit later, when smoke started coming out of the top floor.”

Crews are still on scene watching for hot spots. An investigation into what caused the fire is now underway.

MyNorthwest News

parenting...

Katrina Guischard

The parenting advice going viral right now: be the pilot, not the passenger

An expert is challenging some of today's most popular parenting trends, and it's striking a chord.

2 hours ago

ritzville i-90 closed visibility...

Jason Sutich

I-90 in Ritzville reopens after dust storm caused multiple collisions

I-90 in Ritzville has reopened after both directions were blocked Friday due to multiple collisions.

13 hours ago

Ballard hit-and-run...

KIRO Newsradio staff

20-year-old sentenced to more than 3 years for deadly 2025 Ballard hit-and-run

The man accused in the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian in Ballard last year has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.

13 hours ago

2 box truck fire SODO...

Julia Dallas

Suspects accidentally light themselves on fire while allegedly trying to steal fuel from box trucks in SODO

Two suspects accidentally set themselves on fire while they appeared to be trying to steal fuel from box trucks in the SODO neighborhood.

14 hours ago

columbia city school gun...

MyNorthwest Staff

Person in custody after gun seized by staff at high school in Seattle

A person is in custody after a gun was seized by staff at a high school in Seattle.

15 hours ago

2 Rick Rizzs...

Manda Factor

Rick Rizzs says goodbye to Mariners booth after 52-year career: ‘I’ve lived my dream’

Rick Rizzs has three games left behind the microphone for the Seattle Mariners, and a lifetime of memories competing for his attention.

15 hours ago

One dead in Tacoma apartment fire near Silas High School