3-alarm fire guts apartment building under construction in downtown Olympia

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Fire crews called to the scene of a three-alarm fire in downtown Olympia contained it and estimated that it caused up to $1 million in damage.

Olympia Fire and mutual aid units were called to a five-story apartment building under construction on Capitol Way North and Olympia Avenue just after 5:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The upper levels of the building were engulfed in flames and collapsed.

The fire also spread to three other buildings, including Olympia Avenue mainstay Pete Lea’s Automotive Medical Center. The business has been in the historic downtown area since the 1970s.

“To think that like this was a full functioning business — yesterday — and now it’s gone. The whole block, all the other buildings down there, it’s crazy,” said Peter Lea, the son of the business’ owner.

“When you have buildings right up against each other, specifically one that’s under construction with that much wood exposed, it burns really, really fast, said assistant chief Kevin Bossard with the Olympia Fire Department.

With all the water used by fire engines, streets were flooded and electricity needed to be cut to the city block.

The Olympia Transit Center was forced to shut down and traffic around the area was rerouted, according to Olympia police.

The origin and cause of the fire is currently unknown. ATF is sending special agents, including certified fire investigators and K9s, to assist in the investigation.

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Crews respond to a three-alarm commercial fire in downtown Olympia. (East Olympia Fire District 6)

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