TACOMA, Wash. — A chiropractic center will have to rebuild after an overnight fire damaged the building.
Crews were called to Puget Sound Chiropractic Center in Tacoma at Pacific Ave and S 37th early Thursday.
Flames were reported to be shooting through the partially collapsed roof. At one point, flames consumed the entire back quarter of the building.
Crews fought the fire from outside the building, but went inside once the main body of the fire was knocked down.
Firefighters then worked to put out spot fires inside.
Dr. Steve Baumel says he drove up to his family business to find it damaged by flames.
“Coming to find this burned down is definitely a shock,” he said. “My dad had this building built in 1984 and he’s been in this neighborhood since 1970.”
Firefighters said fallen powerlines kept them from accessing an alley where they wanted to fight the flames.
According to the battalion chief at the scene, engines were pumping copious amounts of water on the fire.
Baumel said he’s hoping his computer servers and patient records survived.
“It’s the patients. That’s the first thing on my mind is to get a hold of them,” said Baumel.
Nobody was inside during the time of the fire, but Baumel said he has his suspicions about who could have been outside the building when the fire began.
“Could be someone trying to find cover - homeless starting a fire - hopefully they’re OK,” said Baumel.
As far as moving forward, Baumel said he’ll find a place where he and his employees can work out of as soon as he can while the building is restored.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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