A three-alarm fire destroyed a Lakewood furniture manufacturing plant Tuesday.
The blaze was reported at 6:10 a.m. at Grandwood Furniture in the 7500 block of 52nd Avenue West, near Mount Tahoma High School. When crews arrived moments later and saw flames engulfing the building, they immediately called for a second alarm.
It was upgraded to a three-alarm fire shortly afterward.
Thirteen engines and ladders and three medic units totaling about 50 firefighters responded to battle the flames. Crews fought the fire from outside the facility because it was too dangerous to go inside, said West Pierce Fire & Rescue spokeswoman Hallie McCurdy.
A large plume of smoke was visible for miles and the high school had to shut down its air conditioning unit to keep the smoke from entering the classrooms.
The fire was extinguished about 8:20 a.m.
No injuries were reported and it was unclear what started the blaze.
There were not yet estimates for the cost of the damage, but the building was a total loss, McCurdy said.
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