posted 10/27/08 07:41 AM | updated 10/27/08 10:41 AM
Views: 1046 | Comments : 14 | News, etc.

Fire at Bellevue & Pine

By seadevi
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If you woke to the smell of smoke in the I-5 Shores and Pike/Pine neighborhoods, it is from a fire at 1605 Bellevue.  The fire has resulted in a road block by police cars at Bellevue and Pine.  I saw a couple of abandoned buses.  Best way to get through is by foot or by bike.  Here is the video from King 5.

UPDATE from jseattle

See comments below for a few news links and additional details. Fired department says the building had only one resident -- an elderly man who died. The location is one we profiled earlier this summer regarding activist Dennis Saxman's effort to halt development.

User AdonisPhoto has created this photo essay of the fire.


IMG_7675

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Fire @ Belle/Pine
I rode my scooter around 6:15am - the trucks were already there - fire started earlier than that - the street was definetly closed-might be open now...
Comment by jose B
October 27, 2008
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RE: Fire @ Belle/Pine
sources tell me buses were still being rerouted as recently as 8:10 . . .
Comment by yancy
October 27, 2008
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RE: Fire @ Belle/Pine
Bellevue is still blocked off but Pine is somewhat clear. Went downtown to catch the 545. Routes 43 and 14 also affected but probably just a minor detour for those buses.
Comment by jrrrl
October 27, 2008
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1 dead
Times says one dead -- apparently only person living in the building scheduled to be torn down:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008316531_apwaapartmentfire2ndldwritethru.html

Plans for a new mixed-use development in the space. Here's all the permit info:
http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitstatus/default.aspx?a=1605,%20,BELLEVUE,AVE,
Comment by jseattle
October 27, 2008
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twitter reports
http://search.twitter.com/search?q=+capitol+hill+fire+near%3Aseattle+since%3A2008-10-27+until%3A2008-10-28+within%3A15mi
Comment by jseattle
October 27, 2008
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That darn 43
43's reroute wasn't minor: Broadway to Madison, and that's it. Last stop was scheduled to be 3rd, with a turnaround on 1st (and going back up Madison). I was under the impression from Metro customer service that the 43 would go north on 3rd, so pretty much everyone had an unexpected hike today.

In related news, drivers who don't know how to use the microphone on an articulated bus when announcing route changes are very likely morons.
Comment by EmilyP
October 27, 2008
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Fire pic from the flickr pool
Thanks AdonisPhotos
IMG_7675
Comment by jseattle
October 27, 2008
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The man who died in the fire
I ran into Dennis Saxman at the scene and he said the man who died was a feisty 89 year old who refused to move out and was scheduled to be evicted tomorrow. I think his name was Ed Jackson. The rest of the building was vacant. I can't remember if he said it was being demolished or converted to condos.

SeattleBrad/AdonisPhotos
Comment by SeattleBrad
October 27, 2008
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Slideshow
By the way, since it was dark, the photos look better against a dark background in a slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adonisphotos/sets/7215760841614
Comment by SeattleBrad
October 27, 2008
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RE: Slideshow
ok. changed link in post too.
Comment by jseattle
October 27, 2008
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More news coverage
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_102708WAB_apartme

Link includes Channel 5's news report of fire including interview with Dennis Saxman (w/similar info mentioned in SeattleBrad's comment) and link to raw footage of aerials of fire.
Comment by linder seattle
October 27, 2008
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Anyone know if Ed had family?
My boyfriend used to live in this building and we'd like to pay our respects to Ed and his family.
Comment by SadForEd
October 27, 2008
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RE: Anyone know if Ed had family?
I'm checking with Dennis Saxman to see if he's heard anything about a fund, etc. to help out.
Comment by jseattle
October 27, 2008
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if Seattle's see-no-evil media does not investigate this RELENTLESSLY... outsiders will. So start digging.
What a coincidence! Can you IMAGINE how... coincidental it all is? The timing, even for a "stuff happens" kind of situation like this. Empty building scheduled for demolition. Everything in order, except for the old man who won't get out. One man standing in the way of ALL THAT MONEY. Something's gotta give. But, hey, things happen. You know, transients, pure chance, wiring, old buildings. Coincidence, was it? Maybe.

He was "scheduled" to be evicted Monday for being in the way of (money money money money... MONAY!!!) *ahem* propitty sales/demolition/development. (MONAY!) The almighty dollar. And what do you know? Stuff happens. And just like clockwork, the human obstacle is out of the way.

Anyone with the power to investigate this to the max, who does not, is the worst kind of coward. Sure, this could very well be an accident. Bad wiring would not surprise me. Those pesky transients, even - conveniently hard to identify and track down as they are, maybe. Maybe a lot of things.

It's just one hell of a coincidence. And the investigation had better be one hell of an investigation, to match. Or it's going to look even more suspicious than it already does. Out by Monday, indeed. Seattle's complacent news services need to understand something. Calling the man "feisty" and shrugging off the screaming coincidence of WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS FIRE with the usual bland, nothing-to-see-here reporting, will NOT make it. A "feisty" old man was in the way. There was money to be made, pressure coming down. And what do you know... any "reasonable" person would have left when the place went up, sure, that is, IF he happened to be awake enough, feeling well enough, and coordinated enough to escape from the fourth floor.

So maybe this WAS an accident. But...

IF THIS WAS ARSON FOR PROFIT, it had better be prosecuted as murder of the worst kind. And this investigation had better be thorough, and relentless.
Comment by Sparrow
October 27, 2008
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RE: if Seattle's see-no-evil media does not investigate this RELENTLESSLY... outsiders will. So start digging.
glad someone finally said it.

ruled as arson:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008321187_w
Comment by Meg
October 28, 2008
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