Businesses destroyed in massive 3-alarm fire in downtown Bothell

BOTHELL, Wash. — SR 522 and multiple roads were closed after an apartment building under construction caught fire and spread, destroying both the building and a mall containing businesses in downtown Bothell.

Firefighters were called to the building at Main Street and 102nd Avenue Northeast at 2:50 a.m. Friday. When crews arrived, the building was fully involved in flames.

PHOTOS: Bothell building under construction burns in 3-alarm fire

"I have not seen a fire of this magnitude in Bothell before," said Bothell fire spokesperson Kirsten Clemens.

Both directions of SR 522 from Kaysner Way to Bothell Way were closed to traffic for hours.

On Monday, Main Street and 102nd Avenue in Bothell were still closed. Police said they would remain closed to traffic for the next 7 to 10 days.

At one point, flames were reported to have been shooting hundreds of feet in the air and part of a construction crane was melted by the heat of the fire.

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Embers pushed by wind spread the fire across the street to the Bothell Mall. The building and the 10 businesses inside were destroyed.

City officials said Friday night that while several businesses had reopened in the area, about 20 businesses sustained significant damage and will be closed until further notice.

Firefighters worked overnight into Saturday to monitor the situation for hot spots.

One person from a nearby building was evacuated. Firefighters concentrated on preventing the three-alarm fire from spreading further.

More than 50 firefighters responded.

The bottom of the structure was an old mercantile building that was going to remain intact for retail space. On top of that was new construction for 130 apartment buildings. The building was destroyed.

The fire gutted the popular Kozy Korner Cafe and damaged the roof of a Wells Fargo Bank.

A Bothell photographer, Kimberly Dunlap Photography, announced online she would be donating her photography profits through the weekend to the Kozy Corner Cafe -- "to be divided evenly between the owner and her employees."

"As a descendant of one of Bothell, Washington's earliest pioneer families (the Ericksens), I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the fire that destroyed a number of buildings along Main Street early this morning," Dunlap wrote online. + Read her post with more information here.

A few homes were were also affected. City officials say it could take days or even weeks to find the cause. There were no injuries.

Bothell firefighters also had to deal with a second fire Friday night about a block and a half away. Downed power lines caught a tree on fire and shot flames 30 feet into the air.

They were able to quickly contain it and prevent damage to any surrounding homes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group