By Lauren Girgis
The Seattle Times
SEATTLE — A massive two-alarm fire in an abandoned Rainier Avenue South building sent flames into the sky on Tuesday night.
No one was hurt in the blaze at 4208 Rainier Avenue South that started around 6 p.m., according to the Seattle Fire Department. Crews restricted access around the building before the front side of the structure collapsed.
Fire trucks lined the block around Rainier Avenue South and South Genesee Street for over an hour.
4200 block of Rainier Ave S: pic.twitter.com/Fmp26sETgV
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) November 29, 2023
According to King County property records, the structure is listed as Rainier Mall North and owned by Kane Properties LLC. But Rainier Mall hasn’t been occupied for about eight years — it used to hold several businesses, with Jumbo Seafood Restaurant and Lounge at the building’s core. The nearly 33,000-square-foot structure was built in 1968.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. People at businesses and homes in a half-mile radius were asked to close all windows and doors to prevent smoke from entering, and residents living directly across from the building were told to shelter in place or evacuate. One person evacuated with firefighters’ help.
“We are going to be here for quite a while,” Seattle Fire spokesperson David Cuerpo said.
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