Fire at Auburn apartment complex displaces residents, damages building
An apartment fire in Auburn on Sunday night rendered the building uninhabitable, displacing as many as 100 residents. Fire officials are looking into what caused the blaze.
Fire officials said the blaze spread quickly and blocked one escape route, but all residents evacuated and no injuries were reported.
Crews responded at about 9:30 p.m. to a fire at an apartment complex located at 1608 8th Street Northeast after a 911 caller reported seeing smoke and flames. Crews from Valley Regional Fire Authority, South King Fire & Rescue, East Pierce Fire & Rescue and several other fire departments responded to the three-alarm fire.
About 100 people were displaced, including more than a dozen children, according to a news release from the Red Cross, which responded to assist displaced people.
Twenty of 36 apartment units were damaged, with the severity of the damages ranging from light smoke to heavy fire damage and roof collapse, according to a news release from Valley Regional Fire Authority. Seven apartments were considered a total loss.
The property management group that owns the apartment complex said it would work to find residents housing while the building is uninhabitable, according to the release from fire officials.
Fire investigators said the blaze began in a carport area connected to the building. According to the release, it spread through an enclosed stairwell to all three floors, blocking the primary exit for five apartments. Arriving crews received reports that someone was possibly trapped on the third floor of the building. Valley Regional Fire Authority tweeted at about 10 p.m. that crews were putting water on the fire and conducting a search of the building.
After the majority of the building was searched, officials said nothing was found inside.
Fire officials credited apartment residents with helping people evacuate. According to the release, residents pulled an alarm that alerted others to the fire. They also assisted a woman who jumped from a third floor balcony to the second floor.
Crews had the bulk of the fire extinguished by about 10:45 p.m., according to a tweet from Valley Regional Fire Authority.
On Monday morning, an evacuation center was set up at the Les Gove Park gymnasium for apartment residents to regroup and receive assistance from the Red Cross. The evacuation center was moved there from the Auburn High School gymnasium overnight to allow the school to resume a normal school-day.
Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly listed the building number of the apartment complex. It also included an incorrect number of apartments that were damaged.
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 7:58 AM.
