100+ firefighters battle Ballard warehouse fire — roof collapses, one firefighter injured
Jun 11, 2026, 5:52 PM | Updated: Jun 12, 2026, 5:58 am
Crews are battling a massive warehouse fire in Ballard. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
Seattle fire crews battled a massive warehouse fire in Ballard Thursday afternoon.
A commercial warehouse was on fire in the 800 block of N.W. 42nd Street, the Seattle Fire Department reported via X just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
The fire department upgraded the response to a 3-alarm fire. A large plume of black smoke from the fire could be seen from nearby neighborhoods, with some Seattle residents reporting seeing it miles away.
More than 100 firefighters were called to the fire, located in a commercial building at N.W. 42nd Street and Learry Way N.W.
Smoke from a Ballard warehouse fire is seen in Seattle. (Photo: Jason Rantz, Seattle Red)
Firefighters shift to defensive strategy in Ballard warehouse fire
Firefighters evacuated the building and transitioned to a defensive strategy, applying water to the fire from a safe distance. Just after 5:30 p.m., the roof of the south side of the building collapsed.
Around 6:30 p.m., a fireboat pumped water to the engines, which then supplied water to the ladder trucks as crews continued to fight the fire because the location was so close to the waterfront.
By 7:39 p.m., the fire was under control.
One firefighter injured
One firefighter suffered a minor injury while combating flames but did not need to go to the hospital after being checked out by medics.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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