Fire reported at immigrant detention center in Tacoma — crews respond to scene
NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect source of fire.
Tacoma fire personnel responded to a fire at the Northwest ICE Processing Center Thursday evening.
The fire originated in an industrial clothes dryer located in the facility’s laundry room, according to Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Joe Meinecke. Smoke traveled up and out a heating and air conditioning unit atop the building, which fire crews believed at first to be the source of the fire.
The fire did not cause any injuries, Meinecke said, and a sprinkler system activated inside the building.
Black smoke was seen rising from the building around 5:30 p.m. Several fire engines responded to the scene.
Bystander Maru Mora-Villalpando said she saw the fire and walked closer to a yard where detainees were.
“We started yelling ‘there’s a fire’ in English and Spanish,” she said. Soon, guards ushered the detainees back into the building, she said.
This story was originally published March 14, 2024 at 6:17 PM.
