Fire, explosions damage asphalt plant near Commencement Bay, Tacoma fire says
Fire and explosions damaged an asphalt plant near Commencement Bay Sunday morning and forced people living nearby to stay indoors, according to the Tacoma Fire Department.
Crews were dispatched to the commercial fire in the 2300 block of Taylor Way about 4:15 a.m. Sunday, said assistant fire chief Alex Wilsie.
No one was injured in the fire, he said.
The fire, Wilsie said, was reportedly sparked by failed supply lines to two liquid asphalt silos, one of which contained an estimated 70 tons of the material.
Fire crews got the upper hand on the blaze once a natural gas valve was shut off and power was cut to the plant, he said.
Residents in the Tacoma and Browns Point area initially were told to stay indoors because of smoke, but that order was lifted some time later.
“Fire is under control, crews are putting out final, small hot spots, and the advisory for northeast Tacoma residents to stay indoors due to smoke conditions has been lifted,” Tacoma fire officials said.
This story was originally published October 11, 2020 at 9:31 AM.
