Month: June 2009

Flames could be seen for miles tonight as two of four building at our brand new Harrington Square Apartments burned to the ground in Renton Highlands.

The complex of 5 story buildings caught fire in a dramatic fashion, in what many witnesses described as a loud explosion, or series of explosions. Some nearby property owners are even reporting cracked windows, possibly from the explosion.

Fire departments throughout the region sent support, to assist Renton firefighters as they battled to knock down the flames and keep them from spreading to nearby homes and businesses. Fire personnel were present from Kirkland, Woodinville, Eastside Fire and Rescue, Fire District 40, Bellevue, Seattle, Kent, Tukwila, Burien, and Skyway, and likely many others.

Fortunately, it looks at this point like no one was seriously hurt by the fire. Since the apartments units were under construction, they were unoccupied when they ignited. [INJURY UPDATE: See my next entry, an email from the mayor, for information regarding the injury of a police officer who was hit by a drunk driver while directing traffic at the scene]

Ironically, and very fortunately, the Harrington Square project had been delayed for over a year as we upgraded water mains in Sunset Ave NE specifically to equip this part of the city with the capacity needed to extinguish a fire in these buildings, on the prescient advice of our fire department. We completed our 1.5 million dollar water main work last year, and construction on Harrington Square began shortly afterward.

This apartment complex was built on the site of an aging strip mall, and is intended to jump start the Renton Highlands redevelopment effort.

While the two buildings affected are a total loss, I am hopeful the project will have insurance that can keep it moving forward. This is of course a huge setback in any case.

I am thankful to all the fire fighters toiling tonight to contain the damage. They have really had to work hard this month to keep the city from burning down.

Here is a link to the architects summary of the Harrington Square project.

Here are some pictures I took at the scene:

Elizabeth Stevens, who lives just west of Renton Airport, reported this on her Facebook this morning:

“Renton Police were all over our street and down to Rainier Ave late last night searching for a hit & run suspect. Advised us all to keep doors & windows locked. Wonder if they caught the suspect. We need RPD cruising our area more frequently these days.”

I’ll post more information when it comes in.

Photo: In March the Corps of Engineers briefed us on problems with the abutment of the Howard Hanson Dam

Word just came down from the Army Corps of Engineers that they will be dropping the water level behind Howard Hanson Dam due to very fast seepage through the abutment adjacent to the Dam. You can read a lot more detail on this abutment issue in my March blog on this topic here.

The new report further emphasizes the potential risk of flooding along the Green River when the rains return in the fall. All businesses and residents in the potential flood plain are encouraged to obtain flood insurance if it is at all possible.

Here is today’s status from the Corp of Engineers:

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Engineers continue caution at Howard Hanson Dam; conservation pool levels being brought down

June 23, 2009

Contact: Casondra Brewster 206-764-6958 or Public Affairs 206-764-3750

SEATTLE – Testing in conjunction with the conservation pool rise at Howard Hanson Dam is ongoing. With the recent findings and observations at higher levels in the reservoir pool, Engineers are concerned that the right abutment is showing signs of internal erosion.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, has been in the midst of testing during its traditional summertime conservation pool raise. The pool reached an elevation last week of 1,169.2 feet and engineers saw renewed reasons to believe that the abutment is still weakened.

Of particular concern is the recent dye testing that shows that water is moving through the right abutment very fast at higher pool elevations. These tests indicate that there are preferential flow paths within the natural materials of the right abutment that could lead to internal erosion within the right abutment if water is held at these higher elevations for extended periods of time.

“This phenomenon continues to be troubling,” said Mamie Brouwer, Program Manager. However, there is no visual distress of the right abutment that has been observed, she said.

Although data collected below 1,157 feet seems to stay within normal ranges, elevations going higher seem to cause more seepage and uncertain water paths through the abutment.

Therefore, the Corps of Engineers has decided to release water from the dam over the course of the next two weeks, to bring the pool level down to 1,155 feet above sea level. This operation will result in reservoir outflows that are not expected to exceed 1,200 cubic feet per second based on current weather and hydrologic forecasts, which is within established thresholds. Residents along the river will not see significant changes in the river flows over the next two weeks

Around-the-clock monitoring continues, as will other data-collection processes during the pool draft.

“We do not understand how the water is traveling through the abutment,” Brouwer said. “We know that what we may be seeing fits the traditional definition of internal erosion.”

The Seattle District’s immediate objective is preparing for the upcoming fall/winter flood season. Preparations include continuing with plans to construct an interim seepage barrier wall and improving the drainage tunnel to control seepage through the most critical part of the right abutment, and continuing to monitor the pool throughout the draft. Simultaneously, the team has initiated test borings, geotechnical modeling and analysis to support planning for a long term repair project to address seepage.

Meanwhile the Seattle District Commander, Col. Anthony O. Wright, wants the downstream community residents to know that the risk for higher flood levels is significantly increased compared to what they are typically used to, until such time as the issues with the dam’s right abutment can be resolved.

“I can’t stress enough our number one mission here is public safety,” Wright said. “We will continue to keep Green River Valley leaders and first responders informed. We ask that residents contact their community leaders and get as much information as possible on how to prepare for such a contingency.”

Wright was referring to the Corps’ efforts of working closely with King County and the downstream cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila to prepare for the fall/winter flood season with the increased risk of higher-than-standard flows from the dam.

“Regardless of the possibility of increased flow rates from the dam,” said Dam Safety Program Manager, Rob Romocki, “It truly is important for the communities to understand that this is a river valley and the potential for flooding exists even when Howard Hanson Dam has full operational capacity and the levees work as they should. So, it’s easy to see the risk increasing when the dam has a lowered operational capacity.”

Information on flood preparedness may be found at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/prepare/FloodPlan_GRiverBasin.aspx

Updates regarding the dam may be found at: http://www.nws.usace.army.mil .

Received from Marcie Palmer this AM:
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Hi Bloggers-

Looked like a great turnout at the Dog & Pony for the RUFF event. Thanks to ALL!!!!

We (Michael, 11-yr-old) & Daphne-Dog (My ONLY Girl 🙂 took some bedding down to the displaced fire victims. According to Delancy Bldg Mgr. ROy, we were the first to bring any bedding. The Salvation Army bought 5 new twin mattresses at Sams, and the Red Cross gave each of the 7 tenants a debit card for $360 for essentials (socks, unerwear, etc.).

We met a tenant moving his few things from his car to his new apt., since he used to live in Apt 1 across the street (looking east, the first one on your left, and the smoke was billowing out of at the beginning…).

He said he needed an alarm clock and a fan (Roy said the rooms are HOT — this building was built about 1911).

Needs: Remember, these “apartments” are bedroom-size. 1 twin bed, 1 chair and 1 small table.

5 Fans

5 Alarm clocks

5 blankets

4+ Twin sheet sets

5 Chairs

Eating:

1 Bowl per person (5)

Eating utensils (forks, knives, spoons, etc.)

Plates, glasses, coffee makers, etc.

Thanks for updatin our Community!

Marcie P.

Gary Palmer, professional photographer and husband of councilwoman Marcie Palmer, has posted some photos he shot of the fire fighters and crowd in downtown last night.

(Marcie can be seen in the bottom photo.)

This is just a few of his photos from last night. His complete set of 77 images is on his website HERE

As more infomration comes in about last night’s fire, one of the biggest realizations is it could have been much worse if the fire department and community had not acted so quickly.

Mayor Denis Law filled me in on some additional details this morning. According to Denis, several seperate buildings share a common basement, which put a large part of the historic block at risk. However, firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading through the shared basement, and they were successful at isolating the serious damage to the building used by the Comic Den, A1-Vaccuum, and some apartments. Denis also confirmed for me that the building was not equipped with fire sprinklers. This is sometimes the case with older buildings that have not been significantly remodled or had a change in use, and are therefore “grandfathered” without sprinklers. (I don’t know if sprinklers would have saved this building, but they certainly would have helped firefighters contain the fire as quickly as possible.)

Sadly, between the smoke and water, the Comic book Den has lost much of it’s valuable and rare inventory. Likewise, the Vacuum shop lost much of it’s product.

Thc Common Ground Cafe, located in an adjacent building (with the shared basement) is currently without power, and has some smoke to clean up and air out, but is otherwise okay.

In fact, The Common Ground may be reopening as early as today or tomorrow!

Again, it looks like there were no significant injuries, and the community and Red Cross are pulling together to help those that have been impacted.
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Here is a little more info in an email that Denis sent to our Fire Chief and our Economic Development Director this morning:

Chief Daniels and Alex,

The city is receiving a lot of praise by downtown property and business owners today for the quality service provided during and after the fire on Wells St.

David: I was very impressed with the efforts of your command staff and our fire fighters in attacking a difficult fire that could have been much worse. Besides calling in ample assistance, the strategy to save the adjoining businesses was executed very well. In addition, I have talked to a number of business owners, both during the fire and this morning, who are expressing their gratitude for the efforts of our fire fighters. While at the scene this morning, it was truly heartwarming to see how hard your staff was working to try and get power restored for the local businesses, understanding the impact if they lose a day of business during a time when businesses are struggling to survive.

Alex: Jennifer and Suzanne have been great in dealing with the needs of local residents and business owners who have been impacted by the fire. They are finding solutions to assist Common Ground with their significant challenge of handling a large catering project today at a time when they have no power. Even Liz Stewart stopped by to see if the museum could be of any assistance to the property owner.

This was a great example of the professionalism and dedication that our employees have in serving this community. Our utilities staff was on the scene to make sure we had adequate water and police did a great job of handling a huge crowd and some significant traffic challenges.

Please express my thanks to all involved!

Thanks.
Denis

Photo from Lady P of The Picaroon

There is a terrible fire in downtown Renton tonight. Over 100 fire-fighters are battling the blaze. King5 News has the story with video here

And Renton Blogger Lady P has close-in pictures and a first-hand report at her blog entry HERE

This is a sad night. This is a popular building, that was enjoying a renaissance of popular new businesses. The Common Ground Cafe was emerging as a popular hang-out for many (I just had coffee there on Sunday with a dozen friends), the Comic Den is a downtown institution, and several other popular businesses as well as residential apartments were impacted.

Mayor Law is on site, and I’ll post his comments when we get them.

The only good news of the evening is that so far it appears that no one was hurt.

Photo from the The Seattle Times