Olympia, Washington – Fire Damages Historic Building at 4th Avenue East

Olympia, Washington (December 10, 2019) – A fire broke out in the historic White Building on the 209 block of 4th Avenue East on early Tuesday morning. Fortunately no injuries were reported in the incident, but the fire caused an estimate of $200,000 in damage.

Crews received a a report of a fire around 2 a.m., and found smoke coming from the first and second floors upon arrival. Firefighters on scene called for additional help, and eventually the fire fire was knocked down. The fire spread damage across three units and originated from a storage and maintenance room at the back of the first floor. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

About Fire

It is fortunate that no one was injured in this particular case, and the firefighters are to be commended for their response. Like any other structure, commercial buildings must be checked for fire safety. Most if not all the steps in fire safety involve securing the area of one’s business or residence. It is also important to make sure that possible combustible materials are discarded properly or at the very least kept away from buildings. They also urge owners of buildings to review fire safety and make sure that an escape plan is formulated in case of fire.

Much like fire safety in other types of buildings, there are different factors which can add or detract the risk of a fire breaking out. The structure and materials that a building is made out of should be assessed for fire safety before construction. It is also advised that all buildings should be equipped with proper fire suppression tools and detection devices such as fire alarms and smoke alarms. Taking these simple steps should help prevent or lessen the risk of fire. Like with all accidents, the effects of fire are dreadful, including property damage and loss as well as injuries or even fatalities. Fire safety is then not only consideration for one’s self, but also consideration for others.

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