Firefighters are working to combat a massive, three-alarm fire that's ravaging an apartment complex in Tukwila, Washington, KOMO reports. Reporters also confirmed that a woman and a "very young" child were found dead in the blaze.
Crews were called to the burning apartment complex in 15100 block of 65th Avenue South just after 5 a.m. Tuesday (August 17). When they arrived, the fire was immediately upgraded to a two-alarm blaze, according to Zone 3 Public Information Officer Eric Autry. Even though they got it under control from the outside, flames surrounded them once they stepped inside the building.
More departments from around King County were called in to deal with the flames, upgrading it again to a three-alarm, officials said. On top of that, crews are having issues with tackling the fire due to the complex's placement on a hill.
“We really don’t have access for lots of stuff in the back, it’s a really steep hill, there’s not a roadway or a driveway in the back that we can put equipment in, so we’re fighting it from the front,” Autry said. “The folks that are working in the back have to be very conscious about what’s coming off the building, they don’t have anywhere to go if something starts falling, so it does become difficult.”
Autry also confirmed that one person had to be rescued from the burning building, and but they haven't been able to get inside and find out if other people are still inside. Five people previously reported missing in connection to the incident have been found, officials added.
“We have had some injuries, I don’t know the exact number, I don’t believe they were serious injuries, they were minor injuries,” the PIO said. Reporters also learned many residents were displaced, and buses came to give them a place to sit until they got help.
Tukwila Fire Chief Jay Wittwer said, "This fire will continue on for hours, if not the rest of the day. Just because of the complexities, it's very difficult to gain access to this building. I suspect that we'll be here two or three days as the investigation goes on."