Crews battle 2-alarm fire at historic Temple Theater in downtown Tacoma
May 12, 2026, 4:59 PM | Updated: 5:41 pm
Crews are working to put out a fire at the Temple Theater in Tacoma. (Photo courtesy of the Tacoma Fire Department)
(Photo courtesy of the Tacoma Fire Department)
The Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) now has a fire at the historic Temple Theater downtown under control.
Fire crews contained the blaze to a rooftop deck.
“The fire is under control. Please continue to avoid the area while we continue to search for hot spots,” TFD wrote on X.
Smoke visible across Tacoma
TFD reported the fire around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and quickly upgraded the blaze to a 2-alarm fire.
“This fire is very visible from the freeway, from most of Tacoma, because it is downtown, and it is near the water,” Chelsea Shepherd, a spokesperson for TFD, told KIRO Newsradio. “It’s a very visible plume of smoke right now, so just know that we are on it.”
Fire crews stated via an X post that the fire appeared to be on the roof of the building. Shepherd said the fire didn’t seem to have spread into the building.
00 blk St Helens Ave, 4:19pm – TFD is on scene of a building fire downtown. Appears to be on the roof of the building. Please avoid the area while crews are actively responding. More to follow. pic.twitter.com/1wKCZL4rDP
— Tacoma Fire (@TacomaFire) May 12, 2026
“Please avoid the area while crews are actively responding,” TFD wrote.
No injuries were reported.
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