(Image: Alex Crick)
Seattle Fire responded quickly Saturday night to a fire reported inside the building home to under-construction Lost Lake 24-hour diner on 10th Ave between Pike and Pine but not before flames and smoke did significant damage to the project that had been slated to open at the end of this month.
There were no reported injuries.
UPDATE: Seattle Fire has determined that “improperly discarded rags” spontaneously combusted inside the building causing an estimated $20,000 in damage to the building and the business.
[mappress mapid=”35″]The large response of multiple fire units began just after 9 PM with a report of fire inside the under-construction space. It has not been confirmed at this time where the fire started or spread in the building. Via fire radio dispatches, respondents said the fire appeared to be in a mechanical room away from the diner space.
The fire was quickly brought under control but not before fire, water and smoke damage. Firefighters also entered the building by smashing through the new diner’s glass. The newly installed neon sign for Lost Lake still shone as firefighters mopped up the scene and the marshall inspected the site to determine the cause of the blaze.
CHS last wrote about the project from Pike/Pine nightlife veterans Jason Lajeunesse and Dave Meinert here:
“Still planning on 24 hours, bar opens at 6am, closes at 2am daily,” Dave Meinert wrote via email. “Lots of beers on tap. It’ll have the best happy hour on the hill. And we’ll have huge portions of good food for great prices. And a great jukebox.”
CHS spoke Lajeunesse at the scene who confirmed the damage to the building.
(Image: CHS)
UPDATE 4/15/13 9:45 AM: Lajeunesse tells CHS it’s too early to say if damage from the fire will change the opening plans for Lost Lake.
Spontaneous combustion of rags from staining the new beautiful build. That shit really happens. Oil based products.
it’s hotter as a diner than it was as a bath house.
I’m sure this is not what they meant when they said “Seattle’s hottest new 24 diner”.
The exact thing happened to the late great lost Speakeasy Cafe in Belltown in 2001. A hardwood floor was treated with stain, and they left fans on to help dry. Also left oily rags in a disposal bin in the room. A few hours later the building engulfed in flames, SFD determined spontaneous combustion from the rags/static/heat ignited the rags and then the floor. The building was a total loss in under an hour.
You DIY’ers and contractors please should learn never put oil-based stuff down then leave it without precautions. It will be a serious fire risk.
Sorry to hear about the fire, we are still looking forward to the “delayed” opening and
after hearing about this we are pleased to see the Lost Lake neon sign was not damaged and is still shinning bright even after this tragic event.
However here at Western Neon, we would like to point out how the fire trucks flashing lights compliment the neon sign so well.
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