Fire sparked at auto shop tears through 4 Renton businesses

RENTON, Wash. — Fire officials say an ignition mishap from an auto shop is what sparked a devastating warehouse fire over the weekend.

Crews with the Renton Regional Fire Authority worked with multiple other agencies to put out the 3-alarm fire along Airport Way near Shattuck Avenue.

The fire started at an auto repair shop on the west side of the building, according to Puget Sound Fire. Flames tore through that business and three others inside the warehouse.

While some cars were destroyed by the flames, crews were able to save about $2 million worth of vintage cars and bicycles from the building before it was damaged.

One of the four businesses destroyed by the fire is owned by John Gilday. His business is involved in the building of restaurants.

“We’ve got $400,000 worth of equipment in there that now will now go straight to the scrapyard, so I am not a happy camper,” said Gilday.

Gilday says he was in the building doing paperwork when the fire started. He told us he thought the loud noises coming from the auto shop were just typical work being done.

Then, when the fire raged out of control, he watched firefighters’ efforts to put it out. He said the smoke was so thick that he couldn’t really see what was going on.

Gilday said it took about an hour for firefighters to get things under control.

Officials say that two firefighters were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated but were expected to be OK.

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