SUMNER, Wash. — East Pierce Fire & Rescue crews continue to put out hot spots after a fire erupted in a commercial building early Friday.
A total of 30 units worked together to battle the fire burning in the heart of Downtown Sumner on Main Street.
EPFR says the fire started around 2:30 a.m. Crews tackled the fire from multiple angles, even from above; the smoke was visible for miles.
“Multiple businesses” in one building caught fire and power is off in the area, according to EPFR.
At 5:18 a.m., firefighters said the flames were no longer spreading and that the fire was contained to the building where it started.
“The impact is just going to be to the building of origin back here, the exposed buildings on the left and right. There’s been no significant signs of extension to those buildings at this time,” said Assistant Chief for East Pierce Fire & Rescue Kevin Stabenfeldt.
KIRO 7′s Briseida Holguin talked off-camera with the owners of the building where the fire started. They said they were shaken up, and said this was quite the news to wake up to. They said the building has been in the family for over 30 years.
The fire started in an upstairs event space called The Attic, and the downstairs business, the Stuck Junction Saloon, according to Stabenfeldt.
Also in the building are the boutique/home décor store Whispering Hills and a coffee shop. It is not known if those businesses were damaged.
Behind the structures, Puget Sound Energy helped control a different fire that was gas-fueled.
Nearby business owners were shaken up, watching as firefighters moved quickly.
“It’s kind of scary because you have buildings with apartments where people live upstairs,” said Don Stover, who owns the building across the street.
“We rushed down right away to just make sure everything inside the shop on our side of the street, but then just sad that this happened and it’s going to have an impact on Main Street, on businesses, of course we’re going into the holiday season so that’s a big concern for a lot of the business owners,” said Jason Motland, whose family owns the business across the street.
At 6:30 a.m., crews continued to put out hot spots and said they were expected to remain at the scene for an “extended period of time.”
The building where the fire started, as well as the adjacent buildings, were searched and no one was inside. No injuries have been reported.
The building has significant damage, Stabenfeldt said.
The mayor of Sumner says she’s thankful no one was injured.
“This is the heart of our town and we really support our businesses and we’re here for them,” said Mayor Kathy Hayden.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Main Street is closed from Fryar Avenue to Wood Avenue. Side streets may also have limited access north of Main Street, the city said.
People are asked to stay clear of the area.
Sumner High School has set up a QR code that you can scan below to donate to those who have been affected by the fire: