Puyallup Commercial Fire Cleanup An Ongoing Effort

PUYALLUP, WA — Firefighters are asking the public to remain patient as they continue to clean up the wreckage from last week's commercial fire in downtown Puyallup.

According to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, the nature of the clean-up requires that crews follow strict EPA regulations to ensure public safety, and as a result the wreckage removal may take longer than normal. Firefighters have not said when the clean-up may be completed, and the effort may close roads in the nearby area intermittently through the week.

The fire in question kicked up Sat, Aug. 21 at a cold storage facility 15th St. E. The building held more than a thousand pounds of anhydrous ammonia — a chemical used for refrigeration — which kicked up a toxic cloud of smoke, forcing emergency responders to evacuate a 1.1 mile circle of downtown surrounding the blaze. The toxic chemicals are also likely the reason firefighters need to be so careful removing the debris.

The monetary cost of the fire is still unknown, but more importantly, there have been no reports of injuries related to the blaze.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, though Central Pierce Fire & Rescue and ATF Seattle Special Agents are investigating. The fire agency has not hinted at any of its suspicions, but ATF's Certified Fire Investigators are agents who specialize in arson-related crimes — meaning the possibility that this fire was intentionally set may be under consideration.