Spectacular 2-alarm fire destroys older home on Henderson Bay

A 109-year-old house on the shore of Henderson Bay was destroyed in a two-alarm fire last Wednesday, in a spectacular blaze seen across the bay.

Firefighters arrived at the single-family home, located at 6914 Sunset View Drive Northwest, around 10: 40 p.m. after multiple calls were received by dispatchers, including phone calls from across Henderson Bay.

“The fire was well-involved through the roof,” said Steve Nixon, the assistant chief at Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One. “There were multiple calls from across the bay, across the spit and in the neighborhood.”

The house, built in 1910 according to Zillow, was owned by one occupant. Nixon said no one was home at the time of the fire.

A second alarm was requested, and ultimately there were five engines, two medic units, a battalion chief, and a water tender at the scene. Nixon said the fire was put out at 11:24 p.m. after a 40-minute battle.

He said firefighters adopted a defensive strategy immediately they arrived on scene.

“There was too much involvement and collapse for firefighters to enter so they stayed outside and fought the fire from the exterior,” Nixon said.

Property records list the owner as Richard Walden of Tacoma. It was not clear if anyone was occupying the house. House and property were valued at $466,000

Pierce County’s Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 12:00 AM.