Linens Catch Fire, Cause Smoke And Fire Damage To Renton Business

Sunday was no ordinary day for Renton Fire and Emergency Services.

Earlier in the afternoon, Renton's Ladder 11 assisted fire departments from Seattle, Skyway, Tukwila, North Highline, Seatac, Burien/Normandy Park, South King County and Kent with an apartment fire in South Park that sent two people to the burn unit at Harborview Medical Center.

With less than an hour until midnight. Renton Fire and Emergency Services responded to a fire at G & K Services, a commercial linen business, located at 1001 Southwest 34th Street.

It's unknown how the linen caught fire or the amount of damage done to the building; however, the fire inspector was on his way to the scene.

Battalion Chief John Lecoq said the department was notified after the building's sprinkler system was set off about a quarter after 11 p.m..

The sprinkler system worked, he said. 

The alarm alerted the department and the sprinklers functioned like they were intended to, even though that meant soaking everything inside the building.

Firefighters extinguished the burning linens, worked to clear the building of smoke and began "salvage and overhaul" of the waterlogged contents of the building.

The plant manager was also at the scene, although the business was not in operation at the start of the fire. No one was injured during the incident.

Four engines, one ladder, one aid unit and two attain chiefs responded to the fire.