Story & Photos by Scott Schaefer

1/6/10 UPDATE: We were on the scene at the English Garden Apartments (515 South 152nd, near Highline High School) this morning around 9am, where we spoke to a few of the 20 or so residents who were displaced by a fire that began on a third floor balcony and burned up through the attic (see our pics below).

“The first thing I heard were two very loud cracking sounds,” said Marcus Pitre, who lives in an adjoining building. “Then the fire alarm went off, which luckily was very loud. Everyone got out okay, and at first I didn’t see any flames. But by the time the Fire Department showed up, flames were shooting up all over the roof.”

“There’s this much water in my apartment,” said a female resident as she held her hands apart by about a foot. “I live on the first floor, and all the water from the sprinklers and firefighters ended up in my unit.”

Doug Leudeman of the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department said that 13 residents have been displaced by smoke and water damage, and that investigators and firefighters would be on the scene most of the day today. The cause of the fire has not been determined, although a resident who lives in the unit where the fire started claimed she left a candle burning on her balcony.

Leudeman added that the unit where the damage occurred will likely be uninhabitable for a month or two. He also speculated that the estimated loss will be “around $200,000.

Metro Transit provided a bus as a sort of temporary shelter for displaced residents, and we found out that Burien Fire has a deal where they can call Metro for a bus from any fire if one is needed (we think that’s pretty cool…).

The Seattle Red Cross was also on the scene while we were there, working to help those displaced by the blaze to find temporary housing as well as other essentials like food or clothing. According to Media Relations Officer Katherine Boury:

“I just wanted to let you know that the Red Cross has been responding to this morning’s fire at 515 S. 152nd Street.

The Red Cross will provide assistance such as housing, clothing and food to six units (13 individuals).”

Here are some photos we took this morning:

PREVIOUSLY:

Twenty residents were evacuated around 5am Wednesday morning (Jan. 6th) from a fire at the 12-unit English Garden Apartments at 515 South 152nd in Burien.

The fire apparently began on a third floor balcony and burned up into the attic and roof.

No injuries were reported.

According to a KING-TV report:

A woman who lives in the apartment unit that caught fire told KING 5 she had fallen asleep and left a candle burning. She thinks that’s how the fire may have started. She awoke to hear crackling and saw the fire starting. She went into the hallway and grabbed a fire extinguisher, but when she re-entered her apartment, there was too much smoke and heat. She called 911.

Approximately 20 people were evacuated from the 12-unit building. About six units had water damage. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Here’a KING’s video:

by Ralph Nichols

North Highline Fire Chief Scott LeVielle announced on Monday (Dec. 21) that he will step aside, clearing the way for adoption of a reduced but balanced 2010 budget for Fire District 11.

The $4,817,185 operating budget for next year then was adopted unanimously by fire district commissioners.

LeVielle’s resignation will take effect on Feb. 28. His current annual salary is $186,362.

Burien/Normandy Park (District 2) Fire Chief Mike Marrs will become chief for both departments. Other fire chief services and training and inspection services also will be consolidated under Fire District 2.

“With that … we are in the black,” Fire Commission Chairman Ron Malispino said before approval of the budget.

“A lot of effort went into this [agreement with the fire chiefs' and firefighters' locals of the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters), and with Fire District 2]. A lot of effort. We need to do it and we need to do it right away. We can’t just operate anymore.”

The departure of LeVielle, who became chief at the end of 2006, and the department’s training secretary – coupled with consolidated services with Fire District 2 – will save North Highline $581,720 in salary savings next year.

Both IAFF locals made salary and benefit concessions as part of the budget-balancing process, including reducing overtime and capping sick pay payoffs. Other cuts include the reduction of a variety of department expense items from $216,600 down to $159,220.

“It was a good collective bargaining process,” LeVielle told The B-Town Blog. “When you reach consensus, that is the best process. It does work.

“It makes sense for the two departments to work together,” he continued. “It made sense to have one chief and to cut costs, including support services, over the next two years. I needed to step down to keep the department’s budget above water.”

LeVielle’s move will save two or three North Highline firefighter positions – no firefighters currently employed by the department will be laid off.

While the consolidation agreement between the Burien/Normandy Park and North Highline departments is not a merger, “there is a lot of operational consolidation, functional consolidation, of existing operations at a higher level,” Marrs said.

“This is an important first step toward making everything work and enhance existing services. This is a big commitment by District 11 to continue its level of service.”

Marrs added that it’s “good for District 2 citizens given the large area of north Burien and the [North Highline] annexation area,” but a lot of work to implement the consolidation remains to be done.

The consolidation of administrative services will take place by the end of February. Training, inspection and other operational services are expected to be fully concluded by the end of 2011, LaVielle said.

LeVielle replaced former North Highline Fire Chief Russ Pritchard when he retired at the end of 2006. In a move that generated considerable controversy at the time, District 11 commissioners increased Pritchard’s salary from $125,664 to $198,000 for the final months of 2006 as a retirement package for him.

Under a revised retirement-compensation policy, LeVielle will receive one year’s salary plus standard buyouts for accrued vacation and sick leave.

Fire District 11 commissioners would have faced the need to reduce services without the collective-bargaining agreement and the consolidation agreement with Fire District 2.

Reduced assessed property values in North Highline, the impact of annexation of part of the North Highline area by Burien in 2010, and administrative costs all contributed to the department’s budget problems.

The B-Town Blog requested copies of the North Highline department’s detailed 2010 budget and the two separation agreements. The budget was made available late Monday afternoon and the separation agreements will be available after Dec. 31 if, under state law, the respective individuals do not file a legal objection.

by Ralph Nichols

With the future of fire protection service in North Highline possibly in the balance, two major personnel actions by Fire District 11 commissioners, expected to be announced at a special meeting on Monday (Dec. 21), could even the scales.

The commissioners are believed to be negotiating a buyout of North Highline Fire Chief Scott Lavielle’s contract, and a layoff package for Sharon Alishokis, a long-time department secretary.

Fire District 11 commissioners are not at liberty to discuss the anticipated moves publicly because they involve personnel decisions.

But following a lengthy executive session at their Dec. 10 board meeting, called just after it was convened, commission Chairman Ron Malaspino announced that “two personnel actions are pending … that’s where we’re going to leave it for now.”

Because of the Christmas holiday, the meeting, which normally would be held Tuesday, has been moved forward one day – it will be held Monday, Dec. 21 at 8 a.m. at the North Highline Fire Department headquarters station at 1234 SW 112th St.

Both Dave Malo, president of IAFF (International Association of Firefighters) Local 3780, representing North Highline fire chiefs, and Jeff Miller, vice president of IAFF Local 1810, representing the firefighters, said at the time it was likely that commission deliberations related to a union proposal to improve the fire district’s shaky financial posture.

“We’ll know more at the Dec. 21 meeting,” Miller said.

Malo and Miller said Fire District 11’s budget crisis is a result of the recession, which has caused assessed property values to decline, coupled with the loss of about $350,000 in 2010 after Burien annexes the southern part of the North Highline unincorporated area.

Combined, these factors are expected to result in a drop of about $1.15 million in fire district revenue, which comes only from property taxes.

Earlier this year, negotiators for the two locals presented a balanced budget proposal, including concessions in their wage and benefit package, “that would prevent any cuts in public service” in 2010, Malo said.

“They ignored our proposed budget,” which included the layoffs of LaVielle and Alishokis, Miller said, and also didn’t respond to a second proposal. The commissioners now have before them a third union proposal.

“They have no plan. They have no budget. And now we’re closing in on the end of December and they still have none.” State law requires that local government and special service district budgets for the following year be adopted by Dec. 31.

Talks between Fire District 2 (Burien/Normandy Park) and Fire District 11 also are underway, and could result in administrative and fire chief services for both departments being assumed by Burien/Normandy Park.

This, said Malo and Miller, would result in significant financial savings – perhaps as much as $1.5 million a year – for the North Highline Fire Department. That would allow the department to continue providing its current level of service, including responding to calls in north Burien.

“If not, it will be impossible to continue to do business as usual,” Miller added. “We see no option [in that event] but to cut public services.”

Dave Lawson, a former North Highline fire commissioner, told The B-Town Blog, “I’ve looked at the financial situation [in Fire District 11] and if they don’t cut the fire chief immediately and the secretary for training … they won’t survive 2010.”

The current board of commissioners has provided “no financial leadership,” said Lawson, who is chief financial officer of South King Fire & Rescue in Des Moines and Federal Way.

An unsuccessful applicant to replace the late Barb Peters on the board following her death last month, he estimated that without these layoffs, Fire District 11 won’t have in the bank the $1 million it will need to pay bills in the first quarter of 2011.

Should Fire District 11 go into next year without having improved its financial situation, there is speculation that Fire District 2 might withdraw from the current negotiations to assume some services for both departments.

by Ralph Nichols

Fire District No. 2 commissioners voted at their Dec. 2 meeting to purchase the Bonney-Watson funeral chapel property at 900 SW 146th St. for a new fire station for the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department.

All three commissioners were “advocates for the new site,” Fire Chief Mike Marrs told The B-Town Blog.

Marrs said earlier that once a property for the new fire station was acquired, “design and permitting will start in earnest around the first of the year.”

This timetable should permit construction to begin in December 2010 or January 2011, with the fire department moving into its new station about 12 months later.

Cameron Smock, president of CEO of B-W Memorial Corp., which owns this and other Bonney-Watson chapels in King County, said “the fire department approached us unsolicited” to inquire about purchasing this site.

“Bonney-Watson has been serving Burien for a long time, the fire department needed a location for its new station, and this seemed like the right thing to do for the community,” Smock noted.

Another reason they decided to sell is that, with their chapel and cemetery in SeaTac and a chapel in Federal Way, “we will continue to serve Burien.”

Fire District No. 2 and Bonney-Watson are expected to issue a joint press release about the purchase Friday morning (Dec. 4).

Voters in Fire District No. 2 approved a $25 million bond issue in November 2008 for construction of new downtown and Normandy Park fire stations. This includes property acquisition and equipping the stations.

Burien needs a new fire station to replace the outdated existing facility at the corner of SW 151st Street and 8th Ave South.

A top priority for the fire department has been a downtown location where response times will be no more than seven minutes anywhere in the district. In addition, a location near major arterials that provide direct access to State Route 509 was desired.

The location of the Bonney-Watson property meets both requirements, and also provides “plenty of on-site parking for us, even when station public meeting rooms are in use,” Marrs said.

Some Burien City Council members were concerned about a possible net loss of public parking when the fire district earlier considered another property in the downtown area.

The Normandy Park fire station at 135 S. Normandy Road will be built at that location. The existing station will remain in operation during construction.

Here’s a link to a PDF of the press release.

by Ralph Nichols

“The heart and soul of the North Highline area” is how Barbara Peters, who died from cancer on Sunday, Oct. 25, is being remembered by friends and colleagues.

Not only was she a wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Barbara was a Commissioner of the North Highline Fire District, a 15-year volunteer with the King County Sheriff’s Office, a long-time member of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, and a strong advocate for Burien’s annexation of the North Highline unincorporated area.

Survivors include her husband, William Peters, and three daughters, Valerie, Cynthia and Natalie.

A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, November 2, at Riverton Crest Cemetery, 3400 S.140th St., in Tukwila. A reception will follow at Rainier Golf and Country Club, 11133 Des Moines Memorial Dr. South.

Since her passing, tributes to Barbara have come from her friends and colleagues in the North Highline/Burien area.

Former Highline Fire Department Chief Russ Pritchard, who is also a past president of the North Highline Council, recalled that during his first term as president he asked Barbara to submit an application to fill a vacancy on the council.

“She kept saying ‘no, no, no,’ then agreed to fill it only for the remainder of the term.” But she remained on the council and “was my vice president all three times I was president,” Pritchard said. “Everyone looked to her for leadership. I looked to her for leadership. When I was president, I would say to her, ‘You’re the president, I just run the meetings.’”

He described her as “a force on that council. She took on projects that no one else wanted to do, and she got things done.”

At Fire District 11, “She was a very cool-headed commissioner,” Pritchard continued. “She thought out every issue that came up. When I was chief, she was the first commissioner to attend our staff meetings. She tried to talk to every firefighter to get their views before voting.”

After King County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox was killed in the line of duty three years ago, Barbara “was very much a force behind a lot of what was done there after his death to honor him,” he noted. Later, she was instrumental in getting a White Center park reclaimed, upgraded and renamed Steve Cox Park.

Pritchard said that Barbara, Steve, Judy Duff, also a former Highline Council president, and he “spent a lot of time together working on issues and became good friends. Two to three Sundays a month we would meet at her house and she would fix dinner for us.

“We became good friends and called ourselves the Four Musketeers. Now I’m the only one left. I know that in heaven, Barbara, Judy and Steve are now together on some council up there.”

Burien Police Sgt. Henry McLauchlan said Barbara, who ran the Sheriff’s Office storefront station and was a Block Watch leader, “was one of the leaders of the pack.

“We called her the major of the Boulevard Park storefront, but she was much more than a major. She was the general down there,” McLauchlan said. “She was just an incredible human being who was always there for the officers, always the first to raise her hand to volunteer.”

Burien Planning Commission member Jim Clingan said he got to know Barbara about three years ago when she was involved in keeping the Evergreen Pool open.

“She was an energetic, hard-charging individual who put a lot of energy into the things she did,” Clingan said. “She had strong opinions and whether you agreed or disagreed, you got a fair hearing and you walked away knowing you got a fair hearing.

Barbara “was just a good lady, and it’s a sad, sad loss,” he added. “I’m thankful to her family – to her husband and daughters – for sharing her with the community.”

Mike Martin, who became Burien’s city manager in November 2006, said Barbara “took me under her wing almost immediately. She was the first to take me on a tour of North Highline.

“She was a very good friend to us, the city of Burien. She worked tirelessly for annexation to Burien and her efforts were very critical to the success of annexation.”

Martin added, “Barbara was the heart and soul of the North Highline area.”

Here’s her official obituary:

Barbara Jean PETERS Passed away from cancer at home surrounded by her family on October 25th, 2009. Barbara was born in Seattle, Washington on April 1, 1937 to Henry and Florence Colella and grew up with her younger sister, Janice. When she was eleven years old, Barbara started working at Pike Place Market to help her grandparents, Emilio and Angelina Galliano, sell their produce. Barbara graduated from Cleveland High School in 1955 and worked for Western Electric Phone Company until she married William Peters on November 22, 1957. Barbara stayed home to care for their three daughters and she was always involved in the girls’ school and church activities. She was known as an excellent cook, organizer and adviser. Once the girls were grown, Barbara became involved in community activities: volunteering with the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, a15 year volunteer with the King County Sheriff’s Department, serving on the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, and serving as a Fire Commissioner for the North Highline Fire District. Without a doubt though, Barb was most proud of her two grandchildren and she cherished the time she spent with both of them.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 52 years, Bill; her sister Janice; daughter Valerie (Jim) and granddaughter Victoria; daughter Cynthia; daughter Natalie (Jack) and grandson Jack. Everyone who knew Barbara was touched by her generosity, determination and her ability to speak her mind and get things done. Her dedication to children was endless and her accomplishments are too numerous to list and too far reaching to know. Barbara will be greatly missed by her family, friends, neighbors and the community she tirelessly supported. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Virginia Mason and everyone at Highline Home Care Services and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Barbara’s name to: North Highline Fire District Aid Car Fund, 1243 Southwest 112th Street, Seattle, WA 98146. In her memory, Barbara asked to please spend time with a child that is close to you. That time spent and your love for that child will be with Barbara forever.

A graveside service will be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, November 2nd at Riverton Crest Cemetery, 3400 S.140th, Tukwila 98168 with a reception following at Rainier Golf and Country Club, 11133 Des Moines Memorial Dr. S., Seattle 98168.

by Ralph Nichols

The location for a new Burien/Normandy Park fire station in the city’s downtown business district could be selected before the end of November.

And, Fire Chief Mike Marrs told The B-Town Blog, if a land-acquisition agreement is reached by then, the new fire station could be built and occupied by late 2011.

“We’re progressing pretty well,” Marrs said. “We’d like to have been further along, but the reality is that it takes time to put together a real estate deal.”

Burien needs a new fire station to replace the outdated existing facility at the corner of SW 151st Street and 8th Ave South. But Marrs and Fire District 2 commissioners don’t want the new facility located just anywhere.

A top priority is locating the new station downtown where response times will be no more than seven minutes anywhere in the district. In addition, they want to locate the new facility near main arterials that will also provide direct access to State Route 509.

“We’d like to stay within five to seven blocks of where we are now,” he said. “That works pretty well for us.”

Last November, voters in the fire district approved a bond issue to replace both the Burien fire station and the Normandy Park fire station at 135 S. Normandy Road. Plans call for rebuilding the fire station in Normandy Park at its current location.

Marrs said earlier that both new fire stations are needed because the existing facilities were built about 50 years ago. Now the aging buildings – not built for such things as equipment for contamination calls that weren’t part of the service then – “have all sorts of deficiencies including seismic.”

In addition, the existing Burien station can’t house the department’s ladder truck downtown, where it’s needed.

The fire department is “actively pursuing several sites,” Marrs added. “We’re leaving all options open as we look at different parcels. We’re trying to get a location that makes the best economical and operational sense. We’re trying to find a good deal that’s in a good location for us.”

Earlier this year, the department expressed interest in the city’s municipal parking lot between SW 150th St. and SW 151st St. on the east half of the block east of 8th Ave. SW.

But Burien City Council members Sue Blazak and Lucy Krakowiak expressed concern during an August council meeting about losing parking spaces downtown. Blazak indicated that new parking would have to be found before she could support letting the fire department build at that location.

Since then the fire department has looked at a number of private properties downtown.

“All sites looked at have varying degrees of buildings and vacant land on them, with a number of parcels put together” to provide the land needed for a new station,” Marrs said.

“There’s not a lot of large parcels left in downtown Burien, so it’s a package of smaller parcels. It’s a real mix and match.”

Once a land deal is reached, the design and permitting process will begin, a process that will take about a year, followed by construction of the new station, which will take about another 12 months.

The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department’s annual “Kids Day” is coming Saturday, Sept. 12th from 10am to 3pm and will feature firefighting demonstrations, apparatus showcase, games, prizes, fire prevention education and more.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Burien/Normandy Park Fire Deptartment’s Kids Day

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 12th from 10am to 3pm

WHERE: Fire Station #2, located at 15100 8th Ave SW

COST: It’s FREE!

INFO: “Join us again this year at Burien’s annual Fire Department Kids’ Day. Last year, 1,000 kids attended our event which included:

• Display of fire engines, ladder truck, aid units, police vehicles, helicopter, etc.
• Auto extrication, high-angle rescue, and other demonstrations.
• Safety instruction for children (fire prevention, burns, electrical, railroad, fire escape practice, police fingerprint I.D.)
• Prize drawings, balloons, candy and hot dogs.
• Inflatable air toy, face painting, Smokey Bear, Mariner Moose, games, etc.

This event focuses on injury prevention, interesting displays and demonstrations, and most of all – FUN for everyone!”

by Ralph Nichols

The location is essential. A delay will cost money. Yet some members of the Burien City Council insisted at their August 17th meeting that selecting a site for a new fire station must go “hand in hand” with providing replacement parking downtown.

Following their discussion, which often focused more on parking than on the fire station, lawmakers asked City Manager Mike Martin to bring to the first council meeting in September more suggestions for new parking lots.

The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department needs to replace its outdated existing station at the corner of SW 151st Street and 8th Ave SW. On that point there is no disagreement. The question is where to build it without reducing already limited public parking downtown.

A critical requirement for the new station is a site that will allow a response time of no more than seven minutes anywhere within Fire District No. 2. Locating the new facility close to main arterials that provide direct access to State Route 509 is also important.

One general location that meets these needs – in which the department has expressed interest – is between SW 146th Street and SW 154th Street and Ambaum Boulevard and 4th Ave SW.

Topping the department’s preferred list is the municipal parking lot between 150th and 151st Streets on the east half of the block east of 8th Ave SW. Only three vehicles were observed parked in this lot early Tuesday afternoon.

Martin told the council he had identified two city-owned properties that could replace most, but not all, of the parking spaces in the municipal lot should the new fire station is built there. One is west of Southwest Sixth Avenue just north of retail parking behind businesses along SW 152nd Street. The other is west of 6th Ave SW adjacent to the Post Office between 150th and 151st streets.

These locations “might replace (municipal lot) parking that might serve the city’s interests and also serve the fire district’s interests,” Martin said. In addition, about 15 city fleet vehicles can be parked in a secure lot at the district’s other station in Normandy Park.

Fire Chief Mike Marrs told council members the fire district would like to move forward with siting and planning the new station “as quickly as possible” because of current “favorable construction costs and bond sales.” One source later told the B-Town Blog that, given current prices, beginning work now could save the district $1-2 million.

Marrs added the fire district also has identified two other potential sites. He didn’t disclose their location to avoid the possibility of inflating sale prices.

But Councilwoman Lucy Krakowiak said while “public safety is the number one priority for our citizens … downtown parking is a need, too…. For the big picture of parking solutions, we need to bring private property owners together and see how to use private lots that sit largely vacant.”

Deputy Mayor Sue Blazak added, “The two issues go hand in hand. While there should be a spot for the fire department, we can’t separate it from parking.” Blazak is running for election to a second term in November.

Councilman Gordon Shaw disagreed, declaring that “putting off the fire station for parking is unreasonable.” In their discussion, he noted, council members were “putting the parking issue over the fire issue. We’ve got our priorities upside down. Parking is not the chief’s issue.”

Shaw suggested at an earlier meeting that the fire department should build its new station on the municipal parking lot site, and that this parking be replaced not with a single lot but by clusters of spaces at various locations in the downtown area.

On the busiest day downtown this year, when Town Square and the new library/city hall were dedicated in June, “less than 10 vehicles were parking in (the municipal) lot,” Councilwoman Rose Clark said at Monday’s meeting. Suggesting that the fire department could make better use of that location, she voiced support for building the new station there.

Mayor Joan McGilton said she “would like to see a decision regarding the municipal parking lot, and then go on to a discussion of parking. I don’t know if we can solve our parking needs in time to meet the fire district’s schedule.”

The new fire station will be paid for by a sale of bonds that was approved by voters in the fire district last November, as will the Normandy Park fire station at 135 S. Normandy Road. Plans call for rebuilding that station at the current location.

Marrs says new fire stations are needed because the existing facilities were built about 50 years ago when the transition from volunteer to primarily paid firefighters was just beginning. Now the aging buildings – not built for equipment for such things as equipment for contamination calls that weren’t part of the service then – “have all sorts of deficiencies including seismic.” And the existing Burien station “can’t house the department’s ladder truck downtown, where it’s needed.”

“We understand that (parking) is the primary concern of the city council,” he adds. “They don’t want to lose parking. That’s why they’re reluctant to sell the municipal parking lot to us without replacement parking.” Currently the fire department has no replacement parking offer, but “we’re working on what one might look like and what the costs might be.”

So…where do YOU think the new fire department station should be built? Please take our poll, or Comment below…

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by Mark Neuman

It was a year ago this morning (June 29th) that a fire tore through the Tara Apartments on SW 155th in Burien. The blaze, determined to be an arson by police, destroyed the Tara, jumped westward, and gutted the neighboring Jenny Marie Apartments.

More than two dozen people immediately found themselves homeless.

Three people died, including Lindy Kunimoto, 49, Ramon Cisneros Sanchez, 76,  and Ramon’s 8-year old grandson, Edgar Cisneros.

One year later, no one has been arrested or charged in the incident (read our story on the investigation here).

Burien residents and businesses immediately rallied for the survivors, raising thousands of dollars and donating food, clothing and supplies.

Mayor Joan McGilton said last week “There has never been a greater outpouring of care and support by the people of Burien for others in need.”

We recently checked in with a few of the survivors to see how they are doing.

“The fire is still on my mind,” said Sharon Howell, this past week. “I wondered why I was feeling so bad the last few days, and I guess my brain is just saying ‘Hey, it’s around that time (one year from the fire).’ Just talking about it gives me goose bumps.”

She and her roommate and friend John Miklosh escaped the fire, fleeing their unit in the Jenny Marie.

The two now share an apartment on 152nd near Highline High School, which they moved into mid-July of last year.

“We just love it here,” said Sharon, who works part time cleaning houses in the Issaquah area.

John still works full time as a superintendent in the international transport and container industry, and enjoys playing his new guitar.

“John met (country singer) Vince Gill in Wenatchee years ago before Vince got famous,” Sharon said, noting that John lost his guitar in the fire.

And Sharon and John still have their cat, Coco.

“We look at her and still see her scars. She really was hurt.”

Coco, scorched by the flames, was missing for the first four days following the fire.

“We were devastated. We thought we lost her,” Sharon said. “But some neighbors said they saw her going back and forth” to and from the ashes.

“Then she came back to us. John found her in the bathtub of our burned out apartment unit! We were so happy. She’s a rare cat.”

John Baggott lived with his wife, Jill, and son, David, in the Tara.

“Our dog, Missy, started barking and woke up Jill, who got me up and moving,” John said.

“She’s our hero,” said Jill of Missy, an Australian Cattle dog, also called a Blue Healer.

Tragically, their roommate, Lindy Kunimoto, 49, did not survive, despite the desperate vocal efforts of friends and neighbors to get him to climb out of his main floor bedroom window.

Lindy died at the scene.

The Baggott family now live together, along with Missy, not far from Sharon Howell and John Miklosh.

“David is working at a restaurant near the Seattle Center,” said John, now retired and a graduate of Highline High School.

A big day is right around the corner for John.

“This Friday (July 3) I turn 70,” he said. “If my mother had held off fifteen minutes I’d a been a firecracker!”

Moriah Marlin, was a 29-year old mother of a six-month old boy, Emerson, on June 29, 2008.

“I never, and I mean NEVER, get two days in a row off from work,” Moriah told the B-Town Blog last July at a fundraiser for the survivors.

Moriah was away camping with her friend, son and dog that fateful weekend.

By utter coincidence, Moriah’s employer, a Burien grocery store, happened to have given her June 28th and 29th off.

“We returned home Sunday morning to nothing,” she said. “Turns out there were neighbors from two buildings up the street that were breaking our windows trying to save us and we weren’t even there.”

Moriah now lives in a house in Des Moines with Emerson, now a year and a half old, and her dog, Keira.

Moriah is currently employed as a technical support representative for a computer services company.

“Sometimes things just happen that remind you of the fire,” said Moriah, who has recently met a new and special man in her life.

“He wanted to give me a ring to show his feelings for me,” she said. “But he couldn’t just go to my jewelry box to try and figure out my ring size. He had to ask me my size, because the jewelry box I used to have, and everything in it, was lost in the fire.”

Moriah broke into tears recalling little Edgar, the boy who died.

“He would come to my place every day and knock on my door to play with my dog when he was a puppy.

“People told me the flames were forty feet high in the sky that night. I don’t know how I would have escaped with the baby and dog. Somebody above was looking out for us.”

by Ralph Nichols

One year ago today, on June 29, 2008, not long after midnight, hell erupted in a very small place in Burien. At 12:42 a.m., a 911 dispatcher received the first alarm. Seconds later, someone inside the Tara Apartments, at SW 155th Street and 5th Ave SW, yelled “Fire!” The complex was burning, flames already engulfing a stairway. Within a minute, a second 911 call reported the fire.

Less than two minutes after the first call came in, Engine 28 of the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department rolled out the door of the fire station at SW 151st Street and 8th Ave SW, arriving at the Tara Apartments exactly five minutes after that alarm was received.

By the time the first firefighters got there, “it was already fairly involved,” Burien/Normandy Park Fire Marshall Bill Harm recalled last week. The complex was engulfed in flames, which quickly spread to the adjacent Jenny Marie Apartments and threatened nearby structures, forcing fire crews into a defensive strategy from the outset.

Despite the rapid response, 8-year-old Edgar Cisneros, his grandfather, Ramon Cisneros Sanchez, 76, and Lindy Kunimoto, 49 – whose bodies would be discovered later by investigators inside the charred Tara Apartments – were probably dead by the time Engine 28 arrived. Another 14 people required medical treatment, five of whom were hospitalized with serious burns.

This was Burien’s worst residential fire in nearly 20 years – and when King County Sheriff’s Office arson investigators determined that it was intentionally set, this became a case of murder.

One year later, the triple homicide and arson remains an unsolved mystery. But, King County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said last week, “This is not a cold case. It is not on the back shelf.” The case remains “under active investigation” by KCSO homicide detectives.

Urquhart said they have “at least one person of interest,” but could not comment further because the criminal investigation is open and ongoing. A man who had been heard shouting, “You can all burn in hell!” to a resident of the Tara Apartments a few days before the fire was interviewed by detectives during their initial investigation and released.

Arriving a minute after Engine 28 that deadly Sunday morning was a battalion command vehicle. One minute later, Ladder Company 29 pulled up. Engine 18 and Engine 19 and the first Medic One to respond were close behind. Over the next 20 minutes, multiple alarms summoned additional Burien firefighters and crews from the North Highline (Fire District 11), SeaTac, Tukwila, Port of Seattle, and Renton fire departments, South King Fire & Rescue (Des Moines/Federal Way), and Kent Fire & Life Safety.

“We had a very rapid response. You can’t get a much better response time, especially to a fire in the middle of the night,” Harm noted. “It was a chaotic scene … we did a good job.”

Despite their best efforts, the fire, which was burning out of control by the time the first firefighters arrived, destroyed the eight-unit Tara Apartments and heavily damaged the Jenny Marie Apartments.

Both buildings had smoke alarms but no sprinklers. Still, witnesses said later, they were shocked at how quickly the fire moved through the two adjacent complexes. Some 50 low-income residents were left homeless. The total loss, including personal property, was about $1.75 million.”

Agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) joined the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit and King County Fire Investigators in the investigation.

A $10,000 reward is still being offered for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible. Anyone with information about the arson can call the Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.

“This was a trying fire for all involved,” Harm recalled. “We got good assistance from the public afterwards.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• 3-Alarm Fire Kills Three, Leaves 50 Homeless
• Fire Victim Gets Surprise Gift Thanks To Local TV Station
• Burien Fire Victim Checks In With The B-Town Blog
• Fatal Apartment Arson Fire Was One Month Ago Today
• Fire Victims Donation Center Closed + Some Shout Outs
• Burien Fire Apartment Victims Suing Landlord
• Some Auction Items For Wed. Fundraiser At Mick Kelly’s
• Burien Fire Victim Fundraiser Coming July 16th
• How You Can Help Burien Fire Victims, Phase 1

According to BTB Contributor Jim Branson, a fire burned up part of a hill on the east side of SR-509 Friday afternoon around 3-3:30pm:

North Highline fire crew put out a brush fire beside SR-509, a block or two north of 128th.

Two trucks responded, and the fire seemed to be out when I drove by and took the pictures at 3:55.

Winds were from the northwest at the time, about 9 mph.

The picture is looking east.

The burn pattern seems to fit the scenario of someone pitching a cigarette beside the road, and the flames spread uphill and toward the southeast, pushed by the wind, spreading out up the hill.

A small outbuilding may also have been burned partially.

KIRO-TV reports that a three-alarm fire destroyed six units of the three-story Whisper Wood Apartment complex in Boulevard Park Wednesday afternoon (May 27th) around 2pm.

The building is located at 11844 26th Ave South (see map below), and video from Chopper 7 showed plumes of heavy black smoke billowing from the building and flames shooting from the top (see the video here).

More than a dozen residents have been displaced, and one person was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined.

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A Message from Chief Mike Marrs: Bond Update

On behalf of everyone at the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department, I want to say thank you for supporting our November bond measure. This is the first in a series of communications to keep you updated on the progress we are making on the bond to replace our two fire stations for Burien and Normandy Park.

This was the first bond in the history of the fire department, and it passed by 66% even in this tough economy. Thanks to you, our firefighters and emergency personnel will have safe and healthy stations from which to serve you and your family.

Recently, we hired the architecture firm of Rice Fergus Miller to design the stations and go through the construction permitting process. Rice Fergus Miller has extensive experience designing and permitting other fire stations in King County and Washington. It was important to us that we hire a company with proven experience in working with emergency service providers.

We anticipate the design and permitting process to take just over a year. Once the designs are complete, we plan to unveil your new stations at a public meeting. We will heavily publicize the meeting and hope to see you there!

The next step is to sign a contract with a bond underwriter. Then the bonds are issued and King County will start collecting the taxes that you approved in November. The key here is timing. We have just three years to complete construction on the stations from the time that bonds are issued. We want to make sure that we are project-ready to build before we issue the bonds. Doing so maximizes our bond capacity and minimizes the impact to taxpayers in this tough economy.

No major project is without challenges, however. The biggest one we face is finding an appropriate site for the Burien station. We have identified property owned by the City of Burien, and hope that the City Council will agree to let us build there. We believe this is the most cost-effective and centrally located option for the new station. Talks are ongoing with city officials, and we will report back any progress we make in future updates.

Some good news is that we might have found a better site for the Normandy Road station. We are doing a feasibility study to confirm some details. The important thing is that we are working hard to be good stewards of your tax dollars; if we can save money and still provide the same level of emergency service, we will!

Again, thank you for your continued support of your fire fighters and emergency responders. Stay tuned for more updates as information becomes available.

In the meantime, feel free to contact me with any questions at (206) 242-2040 ext. 101 or by email at: mikemarrs@burienfire.org.

Late Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued an “Air Stagnation Advisory,” which basically declares a burn ban – so even though it’s cold outside, don’t you dare start a fire in the fireplace!

Here’s the advisory:

…Air stagnation advisory remains in effect until 10 PM PST Tuesday…

Stagnant conditions will return overnight as winds across most of the interior lowlands of western Washington become light. A strong temperature inversion remains over most of western Washington tonight that is limiting mixing and is trapping stagnant air near the surface. The exception is the east Puget Sound lowlands where gusty east winds will maintain good mixing and ventilation. The stagnant conditions are expected to last into Tuesday night.

People in western Washington should be aware that bans on outdoor burning are possible. Be sure to check with your local pollution control agency. In the Seattle area you can contact the Puget Sound clean air agency or visit their website at www.Pscleanair.Org.

Precautionary/preparedness actions… do not burn trash and be aware of local regulations for burning. People with respiratory difficulties such as asthma may find that strenuous exercise outdoors in this increasingly stagnant air mass may worsen the condition.

According to Pscleanair.Org, here are the restrictions under a Stage 1 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves, unless this is your only adequate source of heat. Residents should rely instead on their home’s other, cleaner source of heat (such as their furnace or electric baseboard heaters) for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.;
• Natural gas, propane and pellet stoves or inserts ARE allowed.
• No visible smoke is allowed from any wood stove or fireplace, certified or not, beyond a 20-minute start-up period.
• All outdoor burning is prohibited, even in areas where outdoor burning is not permanently banned. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas. Burning of storm and flood damage debris is also prohibited. The Clean Air Agency encourages people to take advantage of free flood-debris disposal coordinated by their county.
• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

You can monitor air quality here: http://www.pscleanair.org/airq/aqi.aspx, including when the burn ban may be lifted.

According to KIRO-TV, Burien fire victim John Miklosh received a surprise package from country music star Vince Gill – an autographed guitar!

Apparently a reporter for KIRO found out that Miklosh had lost his autographed guitar in the fire, so he called Gill’s “people” and arranged for a replacement, which arrived today.

Full story here, but note that KIRO erroneously claims that only two people were killed, when in actuality three were (Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez, his grandfather Ramon Cisneros Sanchez and Lindy Kunimoto).

And as of Aug. 26th, the arsonist still remains at large despite a $10,000 reward.

by Mark Neuman

A refreshing phone call came in to the B-Town Blog offices from Burien fire victim David Baggott.

You may recall that David, along with his wife Elizabeth, are among the more than two dozen survivors of the fatal June 29th arson fire which destroyed the Tara and Jenny Marie apartment buildings on SW 155th Street in Burien.

Their roommate, Lindy Kunimoto, age 49, died in the fire. Two other people, tenants on the floor above them (including an 8-year old boy), also died tragically, and as of today, the arsonist still remains at large despite a $10,000 reward.

David is now back at work. He and Elizabeth have settled in to a new apartment near Highline High School.

“I just want to say how very much we appreciate all the help that everyone has provided,” David said. “We are overwhelmed with what the community has done for all of us.”

David says his parents, who lived with them at the Tara, are doing much better now, too.

David and Elizabeth, along with his parents and about a ten other survivors, attended the Fire Victim’s Fundraiser (co-sponsored by the B-Town Blog along with Discover Burien) held at Mick Kelly’s July 16th.

“We loved it,” he said. “Thank you very, very much to everyone for the turnout.”

The Fundraiser, featuring silent, live auctions and a 50/50 raffle, raised over $10,500, which went directly to a fire victims fund set up at Sterling Savings Bank.

David says he will stay in touch and keep B-Town Blog readers informed as to how life is going.

Meanwhile, David is a strong advocate for planning and rehearsing a fire drill in the home.

“Knowing exactly how you are going to get out in case of a fire is a very, very good thing to know.”

The annual Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department Kids’ Day is coming up Saturday, Sept. 6th, from 10am to 3pm at Fire Station #28, located at 15100 8th Ave SW in Burien.

Last year, 1,000 kids attended the event which included:

• Display of fire engines
• Ladder truck
• Aid units
• Police vehicles
• Helicopter
• Auto extrication
• High-angle rescue
• Other demonstrations.
• Safety instruction for children:
  • Fire prevention
  • Burns
  • Electrical
  • Railroad
  • Fire escape practice
  • Police fingerprint I.D.
• Prize drawings
• Balloons
• Candy
• Hot dogs
• Inflatable air bouncy thingy
  
• Face painting
• Smokey Bear
• Mariner Moose
• Games
• Much more!

Kids’ Day focuses on injury prevention, educational displays and demonstrations, and most of all – FUN for everyone!

It’s a great way for kids (and grownups too…) to learn about fire prevention, as well as meet and honor your local firefighting heroes.

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Dan Packer, the East Pierce County Fire Chief who was tragically killed last Saturday while surveying a forest fire in Klamath National Forest in Northern California, once worked for the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department.

Packer, 49, worked for the local fire department from 1981 through 1994, when he left to work for Bonney Lake as Battalion Chief; he was soon promoted to Fire Chief for East Pierce County.

Packer’s quick rise through the ranks of B/N.P.F.D resulted in being promoted to Lieutenant, then being named “Firefighter of the Year” in 1992.

Many of his old co-workers and friends in the area are very saddened at the loss, and we here at the B-Town Blog wanted to make sure that everyone knew of his local ties, as well as the upcoming memorial service.

According to Doug Luedeman of the B.F.D., Packer was instrumental in the development of the “Children’s Fire Safety House” trailer which was ironically displayed at the Burien Strawberry Festival June 28th, where a young 8-year old boy named Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez visited it the day before he was tragically killed in the June 29th arson apartment fire.

Packer leaves behind a wife, four daughters and two grandchildren.

Memorial for Fire Chief Dan Packer

• When: 2 pm Thurs. Aug. 7
• Where: Christian Faith Center, 33645 20th Ave. S., Federal Way. The public is invited to the service.
• Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made at any Washington Mutual location to the Fire Chief Dan Packer Memorial Fund. Checks can also be mailed to:

East Pierce Professional Firefighters
PO Box 7500
Bonney Lake, WA 98391

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Another fire struck Burien Monday morning at 111-115 SW 154th, about two blocks from the tragic June 29th apartment arson, and according to the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department:

This fire was confined to the balcony and building exterior, with some smoke damage inside.

The cause of the fire was accidental, and was started after hot ashes from a BBQ were placed in a paper bag on the deck.

Occupants evacuated without injury.

We happened to be driving nearby Monday morning when we saw numerous fire trucks (including at least one from Sea-Tac), pulled over, looked for the camera and realized it was still packed from last week’s vacation.

We returned this morning and took the above photo.

Some observations we made whilst on the scene:

• The fire was out by the time we arrived (around 9:40am)
• One of the victims of the June 29th arson fire was there, checking it out
• A woman drove up, parked and ran to the scene in a panic to see what happened (perhaps she lived there or nearby?)

We’d like to take a moment to reflect and commemorate that it was exactly one month ago today that an arson fire blazed through the Tara and Jenny Marie apartment buildings in the 400 block of SW 155th Street, killing three (Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez, his grandfather Ramon Cisneros Sanchez and Lindy Kunimoto) and injuring six.

To date, no arrests have yet been made, despite a $10,000 reward.

After taking in an estimated 300+ truck fulls of goods, the Burien Fire Victims Donation Center (located at 156 SW 152nd Street) is now closed and being returned to its landlord.

Please make a note of it, spread the word, and do NOT show up with any more donations, since nobody will be there taking things in.

Lynda Insernio of Sterling Savings Bank sent out this email note:

I have worked with each of the families and have funds that we have already distributed or will distribute to them in the amount of $900.00 each to help them get into permanent housing.

There are additional funds in the account I will use for a further distribution once I know how much we have left in the account.  This has been an amazing experience that was shared by many folks.

We at the B-Town Blog would now like to take a moment to give some serious Shout Outs to local businesses, neighbors and just plain ol’ good peeps who donated to this fine cause, which benefited the families displaced by the June 29th apartment arson fire that killed three:

VOLUNTEERS WHO STAFFED THE DONATION CENTER:

• Burien/Normandy Park Fire Dept.
• The Mysterious International Soccer Team who helped move items
• Christian Supply for donating the office space
• Karen Paden
• John & Amber Paden
• Terri & Jared Butcher
• Sandra Aguilla
• Amy Hance-Brancati
• Molly Verbon
• Gwen Benedict
• Matthew Benedict
• Ian Benedict
• Sandra Holmes
• Ray & Jean Johnson
• Kassidy Daw
• Manyableshal Makey
• Peggy Dunlap
• Adanech Makey
• Nicole Isernio
• Angela Isernio
• Ellie Cain
• Gee Braun
• Lesley Scheunemann
• Carol Verbon
• Peggie Recker
• Danny Zaballos
• Max Cullinan
• Kerng Clausen
• Jennifer Dumlao
• Mabel Chu
• Vicci Kennedy
• Gus Ramos
• Roycie Ditullio
• Jane Caqncro
• Mary Jane Lane
• Amy Cullinan
• Gay Paulus
• Sandra Holmes
• Nancy Sparks
• Cari Sparks
• Lynn Mays
• Nicole Mays
• Allison Gobat
• Betsy Akena
• Joslin Briggs
• Jess & Carol Graf
• Natalie Cullinan
• Wendy Zaballos
• Ashley & Jamie Olson
• Ronald Donaldson
• Patricia Hanley
• Terri Hanley
• Dennis Bjornstad
• Bill Williams
• Chris Bacon
• Paul Mathews
• David Rieger
• Chuck Hanson
• Dawn Thompson
• Mark Bailey
• DeAn Small
• Erin Colins
• Lupita Ayon
• Lucy Mason
• Alicia Brewer
• Magdalenc Ayon
• Celina Quintero
• Logan Brickell
• Stephanie Altness
• Cindi Saltness
• Scott Dixon
• Carla Jones
• Kathy Fitz
• Rose Clark
• Mayor Joan McGilton
• Sue Blazak
• Mike Martin
• Chris Barnes
• The Whistler Family
• Brenda Martin
• Gary Clausen and Hillcrest Bowl
• Jimenez Family
• The Will Family
• Anyone else who didn’t leave a name – THANKS!

BUSINESSES WHICH DONATED TIME/MONEY:

• Burien/Normandy Park Fire Dept.
• The Other LLC (Mr. Richards, the landlord for Christian Supply who donated the building)
• Burien Auto Group ($6000.00 donation to the families)
• Burien Grocery Outlet ($25.00 donation to each family unit)
• Wayne’s Grocery ($30.00 Gift certificate to each family unit)
• La Costa (25 dinners donated to members of the families)
• Bison Creek Pizza (held the first fundraiser July 6th, which brought in $5,000)
• Mick and Adrian of Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub (held fundraiser auction July 16th, which brought in over $10,500)
• The Mark Restaurant
• Patty Sader and Discover Burien
• Debra George of Marketing Innovations
• Scott Schaefer/Mark Neuman of The B-Town Blog
• Mark Minium of Burien Honda, for hosting the fundraiser auction
• Elliot Bay Brewery
• Gina & Jim Kallman who not only help setup the silent auction but then provided security for those items the entire night of the event
• Glendale Lutheran Church
• David Scheer Chiropractic
• Dr. & Mrs Dennis Hansen Jr.
• IBEW Local #46
• Sterling Savings Bank
• Collins Chiropractic
• Lake Burien Presbyterian Church
• The Red Cross
• Gregory Heights School
• The Union Gospel Mission
• Lynn Coleman
• Kathy Keene
• Rose Clark
• Rochelle Flynn
• Beth Snyder
• Steve Costanzo
• Janel Stoneback
• Cathy Low
• Jesann Spani
• Ross Locher
• Ana Hughes
• Dr. Aaron Collins and his wife Erin

INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:

• Dean Parker
• Patricia DeCastongrene
• Katherine Higgins
• Meridith Luethe
• Pamela Nomura
• Ray & Jean Johnson
• Peggy & Mike DeLeon
• Nancy Willis
• Loran & Sheila Kollmorgen
• Judy Peterson
• Sharelle Lerck
• Barbara Clairmont
• Norris Anderson
• Margaret lisowski
• Kathy Fitz
• Amy Hallnum
• James & Debra Wickham
• Sam Colombo

AUCTION DONATIONS:

• Sylvan Learning Center
• Katie Arnold and her husband
• Colleen Monette
• The Hi-Liner’s
• Tina Orwell
• Dr. Elie Levy
• Hey Paison!
• Burien Little Theatre
• Key Bank
• Vino Bello
• Highline Therapy
• Full Tilt Ice Cream
• Trader Joe’s
• Lee Moyer
• Dr. John Muramatsu
• Alaska Airlines
• Port of Seattle
• Jean Kim
• Jessica at the Tae Kwon Do Studio
• Rick Cosgrave
• B-Town Blog
• Body Matters
• Jim Coleman DDS
• El Dorado West Retirement
• Elliott Bay Brewhouse
• Richard Bodine
• Burien Honda
• Robinson Newspapers
• Madeline, Chloe Bjordahl
• Highline Medical Group
• The Tin Room
• 909 Coffee & Wine
• The Mark Restaurant
• Optimark
• Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub

This isn’t a complete list by any means, so if you know of someone or group we’ve overlooked, please let us know.

According to the Seattle P-I, members of a family that lived at the arson-burned Tara Apartments in Burien are suing their landlord, claiming they did little to prevent the fire that destroyed the building and killed their 8-year old child and two other people.

Former residents Jamie Cisneros and Martha Velazquez lost their 8-year-old son, Edgar Omar Cisneros Velazquez, in the June 29 arson, which also killed Cisneros’s father, Ramon Cisneros Sanchez. Resident Lindy Kunimoto, 49, was also killed.

Now the couple has sued building owners Eric and Ruth Johnson. contending that they failed to maintain required safety equipment or provide residents with adequate escape routes in case of fire. The Johnsons have yet to file a response in King County Superior Court, where the suit was filed July 8.

No specific allegations of wrongdoing were made in court filings.

Fire investigators determined the fire was caused by arson, and put out a $10,000 reward for the arsonist.

However, no arrests have yet been made.

SOURCE:

• Seattle P-I

Just because the Burien Fire Victims Fundraiser is over doesn’t mean the victims don’t need any more help – quite the opposite really, as at least six families are still in need of regular shelter.

We met several victims at last Wednesday’s fundraiser auction, and we sincerely felt their pain.

They’re mostly all still suffering from the tremendous grief of losing family members, friends and all their stuff, so clearly they could still use a helping hand or 12.

We just got this email update from the Seattle Red Cross, so if you have room in your house, know of a generous landlord, or have any ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact them ASAP.

If someone comes to you and says they have a rental available or some other type of permanent housing to offer these folks this is the person to contact:

Kale Rose
kale.rose@seattleredcross.org
206-720-5295

Please note: The Red Cross does not manage donations of goods. 

If you want to donate money please go to Sterling Savings Bank, located at 224 SW 152nd Street in Burien; phone: (206) 243-6869.

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Beaucoup kudos to one and all in B-Town (and beyond) who turned out, donated, bought, ate, drank and had fun at last night’s Fire Victims Fundraiser at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub – you raised over $10,500!

Some of last night’s highlights:

• 14 fire victims were there, and got their entire night’s food and drink comped courtesy Mick Kelly’s. All were very emotional about the outpouring from their generous neighbors; some spoke, some cried, and at times there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. We spoke with many of them (see below for details) and it’s clear that they’re still dealing with pain and trauma. It’s tough to not be affected when talking with people who either lost family members, friends or everything they owned and not get angry at a system that doesn’t support them. Where is the counseling? Where are the Therapists? These folks are hurting, and will be for a long time.
• Mick Kelly’s co-owners Mick Purdy and Adrian Kelly’s generous donation of one of their beloved soccer balls autographed by soccer superstar Pele sold for $825. The boys were so overwhelmed that they donated their second (and final, thus very precious) Pele ball which went for another $825 (for a total of $1,650).
• “This is my home forever,” said survivor John Miklosh, referring to the outpouring of support from the people of Burien and its firefighters. He had just bought an “I Love Burien” t-shirt the day before the fire at the Burien Strawberry Festival.
• 29-year old Moriah Marlin, originally from Philadelphia, will always love Burien. “I never, and I mean NEVER, get two days in a row off.” By utter coincidence, Moriah’s employers happened to give her June 28th and 29th off. She and her family spent the weekend visiting friends. “We returned home Sunday morning to nothing.” Moriah’s speech was the emotional highlight of the night, as it was told through tears of both the pain of loss and and the joy of receiving true B-Town generosity.
• According to one of the victims present, a man down the street shouted “You can all burn in hell!” to a resident of the Tara Apartments a few days before the fire. Police detained and released the man, who some said was in his mid-40s. Either this is a case of weird serendipity, or the dude knew something…
• Lindy Kunimoto usually blocked his bedroom door before going to bed. As the flames spread, people outside could see Lindy’s fingers on the window sill of his bedroom. People implored him to jump, a leap that would not have amounted to more than a six-foot fall to the ground below. Lindy (and it is not clear why) stayed put. The ceiling above him collapsed. Lindy Kunimoto was 49.
• Thanks to everyone who helped out on this, especially Patty Sader and Debra George of Discover Burien (along with their entire team, who did most of the real work) – it was truly a team effort and it was obvious from the selflessness that everyone had one goal in mind: to help the fire victims!

UPDATE 7/17 10am: Last night’s Fire Victims Fundraiser brought in approximately $10,500!

Way to go B-Town!

Some of last night’s highlights:

• Mick Kelly’s co-owners Mick Purdy and Adrian Kelly’s generous donation of one of their beloved soccer balls autographed by soccer superstar Pele sold for $825. The boys were so overwhelmed that they donated their second (and final, thus very precious) Pele ball which went for another $825 (for a total of $1,650).
• Several victims of the fire were present, and all were very emotional about the outpouring from their generous neighbors; some spoke, some cried, and at times there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
• “This is my home forever,” said survivor John Miklosh, referring to the outpouring of support from the people of Burien and its firefighters. He had just bought an “I Love Burien” t-shirt the day before the fire at the Burien Strawberry Festival.
• 29-year old Moriah Marlin, originally from Philadelphia, will always love Burien. “I never, and I mean NEVER, get two days in a row off.” By utter coincidence, Moriah’s employers happened to give her June 28th and 29th off. She and her family spent the weekend visiting friends. “We returned home Sunday morning to nothing.” Moriah’s speech was the emotional highlight of the night, as it was told through tears of both the pain of loss and and the joy of receiving true B-Town generosity.
• According to one of the victims present, a man down the street shouted “You can all burn in hell!” to a resident of the Tara Apartments a few days before the fire. Police detained and released the man, who some said was in his mid-40s. Either this is a case of weird serendipity, or the dude knew something…
• Lindy Kunimoto usually blocked his bedroom door before going to bed. As the flames spread, people outside could see Lindy’s fingers on the window sill of his bedroom. People implored him to jump, a leap that would not have amounted to more than a six-foot fall to the ground below. Lindy (and it is not clear why) stayed put. The ceiling above him collapsed. Lindy Kunimoto was 49.
• Thanks to everyone who helped out on this – it was truly a team effort and it was obvious from the selflessness that everyone had one goal in mind: to help the fire victims!

Some photos from tonight’s amazing event (move your mouse over photos to see info):

==============
UPDATE 7:30pm: BTB Writer Mark Neuman has been visiting with several folks here tonight, and he’s met several fire survivors who are present. He files this report:

David Baggott, a fire survivor who lived at the Tara Apartments with his wife, Mom, Dad and their dog Missy, had a roommate named Lindy Kunimoto, 49, who he knew for 10 years. The reason David woke up the night of the fire is because Missy was barking; he could tell something was wrong. He reports that flames were so intense that he had to shut the door and retreat back into the apartment. He then knocked on Lindy’s door, but there was no answer and he couldn’t open it. David realized then that they had to get out, so he got his family out through a sliding glass door safely. As they were leaving, their ceiling crashed into the living room and bedrooms. Lindy never got out and one was of three fatalities.

Joel Handran, a fire victim, said “I feel traumatized…the whole experience is bending my brain, and I can’t thank everybody enough…” Pam Ward, his fiance’ was with him that night and both are here tonight; they have a 7-month old baby boy who survived. They were alerted to the fire because neighbors banged on their window. Joel highly recommends practicing fire escapes with your family: “Absolutely have a fire drill at home, no question about it – know how you’re going to get out no matter what…”

The Daddy-O’s are playing, more than 125 people are still eating, drinking and laughing with their mouths full here at the Burien Fire Fundraiser at Mick Kelly’s;  the Silent Auction closes at 8pm and the Live Auction starts very soon.

In the Silent Auction right now, Body Matters’ One-Hour Massage worth $60 bucks currently has a high bid of $30. The Mark Restaurant’s $50 gift certificate is currently bidding at $30. A silent bidder, who strangely spoke up with the aroma of an imported beer on her breath, revealed that she has bid just $15 on a Trader Joe’s pasta and olive oil gift basket valued at $36.

So come on down – not only is this for a great cause, but there are bargains to be had as well!

As we noted earlier, there are several fire victims here tonight, along with at least 10 members of the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Dept (including some who fought the fire).

We spoke with special guests John Miklosh and his fiance’ Sharon Howell, two fire survivors here who lived in the Jenny Marie apartments. Around 12:31am on the night of the fire, John was on his deck smoking a cig, and he heard a man yell what he thought was “fight fight fight!” but was in actuality “fire fire fire!” He then noticed a parked van ablaze near the building and quickly got out in time.

John and Sharon used to give popsicles to a cute, chubby little neighbor boy Edgar, the 8-year old who tragically died in the fire. “He was so cute,” Sharon said of Edgar, as her eyes swelled up.

John then said “I cannot tell you how much I love the people of Burien, because they’ve done so much for us…” before starting to tear up.

Luckily they have found a new apartment, and despite the fire they saved their cat Coco.

Patty Sader, Executive Director of Discover Burien, is here working hard despite a sore throat and flu, and is “overwhelmed and amazed at the generosity of the people of Burien who made this all possible. Because you just don’t put together an auction of this size in two weeks.”

Some really cool last-minute auction items have arrived, and include:

• A gorgeous, framed autographed photo of Mariner legend Edgar Martinez in action
• A collectible mini football helmet autographed by Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant
• A $1 million dollar proof “bill” that is made of .999 pure silver and is layered in 24 carot pure gold and is a 1/4 pound troy
• Two framed, autographed photo portraits of Mariner All-Star Ichiro:

Elinor, a server here at Mick Kelly’s, says tonight’s special is Grilled Salmon with a Mango Salsa and Rice, or Garlic Mashed Potatoes; comes with Asparagus, or by golly, you can chow down on Beef Stroganoff.

Several survivors of the fire have arrived, and the Burien Fire Dept. has just parked their ladder truck out front:

We’ll be doing updates live all night, but if you’re reading this now and thinking of coming, we recommend you get here soon, as the Silent Auction runs from 6-8pm,  the Live Auction begins at 7:30pm and The Daddios are about to start.

More to come soon…

(click on graphic to download PDF Poster suitable for printing/posting)

Don’t forget – tonight (Wed. July 16th) is the Burien Fire Victims Fundraiser Auction at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, located at 435 SW 152nd Avenue in downtown Burien (phone: 206.246.2473).

What to expect:

• 6pm: Doors open
• 6pm: Silent auction starts
• 6pm: Live music from The Daddios starts
• 7:30pm: Live auction starts, hosted by Mark Minium of Burien Honda
  
• 8pm: 50/50 Raffle ends

Other things to know:

• All proceeds, including the entire day’s profits from Mick Kelly’s, will go directly into the Fire Fund set up at Sterling Savings Bank
• $10 suggested donation at the Door (goes directly into the Fire Fund)
• Silent Auction items will be in the back (look for signs)
• We’re hoping to have some very special guests there
• The B-Town Blog will be “blogging live” from Mick Kelly’s
• There will be a 50/50 raffle: $1 buck per ticket, with the winner getting 50% of the winnings and the other 50% going directly into the Fire Victims Fund

Some of the items up for Auction include:

• Soccer Ball autographed by international soccer superstar Pele
• 3-day Schwietzer Ski Condo Vacation
• 2 Domestic Airline Tickets courtesy Alaska Airlines ($700+ value)
• Gourmet Cooking Class
• $750 value Teeth Whitening courtesy Jim Coleman, DDS
• $300 Great Wolf Lodge package
• 3-month Ad on the B-Town Blog ($450 value)
• Birthday Party Package at the cool new Full Tilt Ice Cream
• Much more (just show up and you’ll see)!

So, email this page to your friends, call the press/media, spread the word, because tonight is the night where the entire area opens its hearts and wallets, and shows just how generous and caring we all are as neighbors!
Map:

View Larger Map

Don’t forget folks – tomorrow night (starting at 6pm) is the Fire Victims Fundraiser Auction at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub, so please make sure your calendars are marked and your wallet is ready to open!

(click on graphic to download PDF Poster suitable for printing/posting)

The generosity of the businesses and people in the Burien area is coming out and shining like the bright sun on a summer’s day, and here’s proof – an exclusive peek at the items up for bid at Wednesday’s Fire Victim Fundraiser Auction at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub:

• Soccer ball autographed by international superstar athlete Pele!
• 3-day Schweitzer Ski Condo courtesy Julie Burr
• 2 tickets from Alaska Airlines
• 2 gift baskets courtesy Port of Seattle employees
• 4 Mariner Tickets, mugs, Bobblehead piggy banks and canvas bag courtesy Key Bank
• Jewelry by Kathy Keene
• $540 gift certificate from Sylvan Learning
• Wine Tasting for 4 from Vino Bello
• 4 Cheesesteaks from Hey Paison
• Tickets for Burien Little Theatre
  
• 60 minute massage from Highline Therapy
• Baked Goods
• Yard Work
• Flower Arrangements by Colleen Monette
• Hi Liner tickets
• Birthday Party Package
• Trader Joe’s Gift Basket
• Handyman Service
• 1 Sonicare toothbrush 

Some items will be in the Silent Auction, which starts at 6pm, and others in the Live Auction, which will begin at 7:30pm. There will most certainly be many more items up for bid, but this is a good taste of what to expect, so get your wallets ready…

All proceeds from the event, as well as the entire day’s profits from Mick Kelly’s, will be donated directly into a special Fire Victims Fund set up at Sterling Savings Bank.

Stay tuned to the B-Town Blog for exclusive updates on what we hope will be a huge fundraiser for the victims of the fatal June 29th arson apartment fire.

If you have something really cool or valuable that you’d like to donate, please call Patty Sader of Discover Burien ASAP at (206) 433-2882.

If you’d like to help out by printing one of the Posters, please download the high-res PDF here (15MB) and print/distribute/post to your heart’s content.

In the meantime, here are specifics on how you can help four of the 15 affected families. All items can be dropped off at the Burien branch of Sterling Savings Bank (located at 224 SW 152nd Street) for distribution to the family; if you’d like more info, call Lynda Isernio at (206) 243-6869

1. Cisneros-Velazquez Family
   Burned out of their apartment—Lost their beloved son, Edgar and Grandfather

Needs:

• Mom: Martha
  Shirts or tops: Size Medium
  Pants: Medium
  Shoes: Size 6

• Dad: Jaime
  Shirts: Medium
  Pants: 34 waist
  Shoes: Size 9

• Adilene: Age 20
  Shirts: Medium
  Pants: Large

• Adriana: Age 13
  Shirts: X-small
  Pants: Small

• Uriel: Age 15
  Shirts and tops: XXL
  Pants: XXL (youth)

• Also needed:
  • Household necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

2. Baker/Ward/Handran Family
Burned out of their apartment—Lost everything

Needs:

• Mom: Pam Ward
  Tops: 1X or 2X
  Pants: XL or 18/20
  Shoes: size 10

• Dad: Joey Handran
  Tops size L or XL
  Pants: L or 34×32 or 36×32
  Shoes 10 – 10 1/2

• Austin Baker: Age 12:
  Tops and bottoms size XL (wants shorts)
  Shoes: 12 _ – 13 men

• Dylan Baker: Age 14
  Tops size XL
  Pants: 36×32 or 38×32
  Shoes: 12 _ -13 men

• Brandon Handran: 9 months
  9-12 month size clothes
  Shoes: 4 (infant)

• Also needed:
  • Household Necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

3. Pascual-Flores Family
Burned out of their apartment—Lost everything

• Mom: Maria
  Shirts or tops: size Medium
  Pants: size 9-11

• Dad: Raul
  Shirts or tops: size Medium
  Pants: 38×32
  Shoes: 8 Mens

• Juan Carlos: Age 9
  Shoes: size 9 youth
  Pants: size 9-10
  Shirts and tops size 10

• Jessica: Age 5
  Shoes: size 12
  Shirts and tops: size 7-8
  Pants: size 8

• Jose: 10 months old
  Shirts: size 16 months
  Pants: size 16 months
  Shoes: size 4 infants

• Also needed:
  • Household Necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

4. Rose Family
Burned out of their apartment—Lost everything

Needs:

• Mom: Shanell Rose
  Tops: size M
  Pants: size 8 women

• Dad:
  Tops: XX or XXX

• Aaron: 12 years old
  Shirts: Medium
  Pants 29/30
  Socks

• Andrew: 14 years old
  Shirts: Large
  Pants 34/32
  Socks

• Also needed:
  • Household necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

We here at the B-Town Blog highly recommend that people consider donating either cash or Gift Cards, as a) you don’t know who else may have bought the same specific item(s) and b) what if the recipient doesn’t like those yellow/orange polka-dotted socks you bought? With a Gift Card, the recipient gets to choose what they want, and we believe this empowerment is also an excellent form of therapy.

Donations are also being accepted at 156 SW 152nd Street; the space currently shows “Christian Supply” as the tenant, but they vacated the space a few months ago and the landlord has generously donated the space to use for six weeks:

View Larger Map

From Gregory Heights Second Grade Teacher Nancy Sparks comes some specific information on four of the families who were victims of last weekend’s tragic apartment fire.

As we mentioned previously, the Red Cross shelter at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church has closed. Families’ motel vouchers expire tomorrow morning. Affordable housing and cash donations are needed most of all, according to Ms. Sparks:

“When I spoke with the Rose and Baker/Ward/Handran families, they need immediate affordable housing. In 3 days they will be totally homeless.  The Pascual-Flores family is staying in a relative’s garage for the time being until they can afford housing.  The Cisneros family is staying with relatives for now.”

Here are specifics on how you can help four of the 15 affected families. All items can be dropped off at the Burien branch of Sterling Savings Bank (located at 224 SW 152nd Street) for distribution to the family; if you’d like more info, call Lynda Isernio at (206) 243-6869

1. Cisneros-Velazquez Family
   Burned out of their apartment—Lost their beloved son, Edgar and Grandfather

Needs:

• Mom: Martha
  Shirts or tops: Size Medium
  Pants:  Medium
  Shoes:  Size 6

• Dad:  Jaime
  Shirts:  Medium
  Pants:  34 waist
  Shoes:  Size 9

• Adilene:  Age 20
  Shirts:  Medium
  Pants:  Large

• Adriana:  Age 13
  Shirts:  X-small
  Pants:  Small

• Uriel:  Age 15
  Shirts and tops:  XXL
  Pants:  XXL (youth)

• Also needed:
  • Household necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

2. Baker/Ward/Handran Family
Burned out of their apartment—Lost everything

Needs:

• Mom: Pam Ward
  Tops: 1X or 2X
  Pants:  XL or 18/20
  Shoes:  size 10

• Dad:  Joey Handran
  Tops size L or XL
  Pants:  L or 34×32 or 36×32
  Shoes 10 – 10 1/2

• Austin Baker: Age 12:
  Tops and bottoms size XL  (wants shorts)
  Shoes:  12 _ – 13 men

• Dylan Baker:  Age 14
  Tops size XL
  Pants:  36×32 or 38×32
  Shoes: 12 _ -13 men

• Brandon Handran:  9 months
  9-12 month size clothes
  Shoes: 4 (infant)

• Also needed:
  • Household Necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

3. Pascual-Flores Family
Burned out of their apartment—Lost everything

• Mom: Maria
  Shirts or tops:  size Medium
  Pants:  size 9-11

• Dad:  Raul
  Shirts or tops:  size Medium
  Pants:  38×32
  Shoes:  8 Mens

• Juan Carlos:  Age 9
  Shoes:  size 9 youth
  Pants:  size 9-10
  Shirts and tops size 10

• Jessica:  Age 5
  Shoes:  size 12
  Shirts and tops:  size 7-8
  Pants:  size 8

• Jose:  10 months old
  Shirts:  size 16 months
  Pants:  size 16 months
  Shoes:  size 4 infants

• Also needed:
  • Household Necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

4. Rose Family
Burned out of their apartment—Lost everything

Needs:

• Mom: Shanell Rose
  Tops:  size M
  Pants:  size 8 women

• Dad:
  Tops: XX or XXX

• Aaron:  12 years old
  Shirts:  Medium
  Pants 29/30
  Socks

• Andrew:  14 years old
  Shirts:  Large
  Pants 34/32
  Socks

• Also needed:
  • Household necessities
  • Fred Meyer Gift Cards
  • Restaurant Gift Cards
  • Target Gift Cards
  • Food Store Gift Cards

All donated items can be dropped at Sterling Savings Bank, located at 224 SW 152nd Street; 206-243-6869 (contact Lynda).

UPDATE: Previously we were told that, as of July 10th, donations could be taken to Sunnydale School, but we just received word that that is no longer the case – starting tomorrow (Tues. July 8th) at 11am, the new drop-off location will be at 156 SW 152nd Street; the space currently shows “Christian Supply” as the tenant, but they vacated the space a few months ago and the landlord has generously donated the space to use for six weeks:

View Larger Map

Jared Butcher, organizer of Sunday’s fire victim fundraiser at Bison Creek Pizza, just reported this great news to us:

Bison Creek Fundraiser was a success!

We raised roughly $5,000, loaded 7 pickup trucks and two paramedic vehicles.

Lt. Will and his crew at Fire District #2 were a great help with accepting donations – I could not have done it without them.

KIRO, KOMO, KING and Q13 broadcast info, interviews and live clips of the event, which was a big help in bringing people out to the fundraiser.

Thank you Burien for all your support – you deserve a pat on the back!

The next fundraisers are:

• Monday, July 14th, July 14, 2008, from Noon to Midnight, Hillcrest Family Bowling Center in Renton will be holding a major fundraiser, with 100% of all proceeds from all-day bowling and shoe rental going to an already established fund to support these four families.
  • “I witnessed the fire that night, and it was something that I hope I never see again,” says Jerry Clausen, Hillcrest’s owner.  “I was surrounded by despair and desperation, and there was nothing I could do to help.”  Well, that was the night of the fire, but after Clausen and his wife JoAnne found out that the young child that perished in the fire and members of at least 3 displaced families were classmates of their 7 and 12 year old sons. “ I had no choice, this is about family, and taking care of one another, there just isn’t enough of that in this world today,” explained Clausen. “ We have the ability to do it, and others don’t, it’s just that simple.”
  • There will be four collection barrels at the center to collect clothing or other needed items for the 4 families.
  • There will be live music from 6pm on featuring a live band, and a featuring a jam with some of Seattle’s more popular musicians.
  • There will be an opportunity for private donations as well.
  • If Hillcrest gets enough cool stuff donated, they will auction off articles throughout the night.
• Wednesday July 16th, from 6pm on, at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub located at 435 SW 152nd Street – a special Silent and Live Auction fundraiser for the families with live music and much more. If you have items to donate to either auction – contact Patty Sader at Discover Burien 206-433-2882.

The emergency shelter at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church (run by the Red Cross) for last weekend’s apartment fire victims closed last night, leaving dozens of people now fending for themselves, including finding shelter.

Most residents received 3-day motel vouchers, which unfortunately run out this coming Tuesday, July 8th.

This morning, the B-Town Blog received this email call for help from Pam Ward, who, along with many others, is still in need:

My family was one of the families affected by the fire.

We lived in the Tara Apts which were completely destroyed.

I have 3 children ages 14, 12, and 6 months.

We are in need of an affordable apartment.

I recently lost my job and my fiance is currently unemployed,  but we are receiving public assistance until I can find employment.

Any leads for housing would be most appreciated as we have no where to go when our 3 day motel voucher runs out on Tues a.m.

I can be reached @ (206) 444-9038.

Thank you in advance for any tips and/or leads this site or our neighbors can provide.

Bless you,
Pam, Joel, Dylan, Austin & baby Brandon

Here’s a recap of how (and what/where) you can help:

HOUSING:

• If you are a landlord, or know of a place that can house some of the displaced families, please email us ASAP – we’ll pass your info along to the folks in need ASAP.

FUNDRAISERS:

• Today (Sunday, July 6th) from 5pm-9pm there’s an all-ages fundraiser at Bison Creek Pizza located at 630 SW 153rd Street (206-244-8825): Sickamore, Jonn Rockwell, Skwish & the Mighty Return of Horsehedd will be playing at an outdoor bash; small household items, clothing and cash donations will be collected at this event.
• Monday, July 14th, July 14, 2008, from Noon to Midnight, Hillcrest Family Bowling Center in Renton will be holding a major fundraiser, with 100% of all proceeds from all-day bowling and shoe rental going to an already established fund to support these four families.
  • “I witnessed the fire that night, and it was something that I hope I never see again,” says Jerry Clausen, Hillcrest’s owner.  “I was surrounded by despair and desperation, and there was nothing I could do to help.”  Well, that was the night of the fire, but after Clausen and his wife JoAnne found out that the young child that perished in the fire and members of at least 3 displaced families were classmates of their 7 and 12 year old sons. “ I had no choice, this is about family, and taking care of one another, there just isn’t enough of that in this world today,” explained Clausen. “ We have the ability to do it, and others don’t, it’s just that simple.”
  • There will be four collection barrels at the center to collect clothing or other needed items for the 4 families.
  • There will be live music from 6pm on featuring a live band, and a featuring a jam with some of Seattle’s more popular musicians.
  • There will be an opportunity for private donations as well.
  • If Hillcrest gets enough cool stuff donated, they will auction off articles throughout the night.
• Wednesday July 16th, from 6pm on, at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub located at 435 SW 152nd Street – a special Silent and Live Auction fundraiser for the families with live music and much more. If you have items to donate to either auction – contact Patty Sader at Discover Burien 206-433-2882.

CASH DONATIONS:

• You can make cash donations at any Sterling Savings Bank branch by specifying the “Burien Fire Fund.” NOTE: If you want to donate to a specific family, be sure to let the teller know the name of the family. Sterling Savings is located at 224 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien; phone is (206) 243-6869 (contact: Lynda).
• We’ve also heard that Washington Mutual is accepting cash donations for specific families. More details to come as we learn them, but we’re sure that if you drop into any branch, the kind folks at WaMu will have answers.
• You can also donate to the Seattle Red Cross’ “Burien Apartment Fire Fund.” Make sure “Burien Apartment Fire Fund” is selected in the pull-down menu when you donate.

CLOTHING & SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:

You can drop off any clothing or small household items at the following (we suggest calling first):

• Collins Chiropractic at 619 SW 152nd Street; 206-242-0998, contact: Lindsay
• Sterling Savings Bank at 224 SW 152nd Street; 206-243-6869, contact Lynda

LARGER ITEMS:

• As of Thursday, July 10th, larger furniture items can be dropped off at Sunnydale School in Burien, located at 15631 Des Moines Memorial Drive. If you have a larger item, please call either Erin or Lindsay at Collins Chiropractic (206-242-0998), or Lynda at Sterling Savings (206-243-6869) to make arrangements for pick up of the item(s) if the person has no way to deliver the item to Sunnydale.

More info to come as we receive it of course…

Quick update on progress of the new B-Good In B-Town movement for this holiday weekend: 

FUNDRAISERS:

• This Sunday, July 6th, from 5pm-9pm at Bison Creek Pizza located at 630 SW 153rd Street (206-244-8825): Sickamore, Jonn Rockwell, Skwish & the Mighty Return of Horsehedd will be playing at an outdoor all-ages bash; small household items, clothing and cash donations will be collected at this event.
• Wednesday July 16th, from 6pm on, at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub located at 435 SW 152nd Street – a special Silent and Live Auction fundraiser for the families with live music and much more. If you have items to donate to either auction – contact Patty Sader at Discover Burien 206-433-2882.

CASH DONATIONS:

• You can make cash donations at any Sterling Savings Bank branch by specifying the “Burien Fire Fund.” NOTE: If you want to donate to a specific family, be sure to let the teller know the name of the family. Sterling Savings is located at 224 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien; phone is (206) 243-6869 (contact: Lynda).
• We’ve also heard that Washington Mutual is accepting cash donations for specific families. More details to come as we learn them, but we’re sure that if you drop into any branch, the kind folks at WaMu will have answers.
• You can also donate to the Seattle Red Cross’ “Burien Apartment Fire Fund.” Make sure “Burien Apartment Fire Fund” is selected in the pull-down menu when you donate.

CLOTHING & SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:

You can drop off any clothing or small household items at the following (we suggest calling first):

• Collins Chiropractic at 619 SW 152nd Street; 206-242-0998, contact: Lindsay
• Sterling Savings Bank at 224 SW 152nd Street; 206-243-6869, contact Lynda

LARGER ITEMS:

• As of Thursday, July 10th, larger furniture items can be dropped off at Sunnydale School in Burien, located at 15631 Des Moines Memorial Drive. If you have a larger item, please call either Erin or Lindsay at Collins Chiropractic (206-242-0998), or Lynda at Sterling Savings (206-243-6869) to make arrangements for pick up of the item(s) if the person has no way to deliver the item to Sunnydale.

We here at the B-Town Blog want to send some serious shout-outs to all those who have stepped up and helped so far.

We also encourage everyone reading this, be they local business owners or regular citizens in Burien or Bellingham, to find a way to help out, so please email us if you have any offerings or services you’d like to donate, either immediately or for the upcoming July 16th Auction Fundraiser at Mick Kelly’s.

In other words, let’s B-Good In B-Town!

More info as it comes in…so stay tuned.

The wagons are circled, and what we’re christening as the B-Good In B-Town movement has begun, with several new fundraisers schedule and folks accepting donations to help the victims of last weekend’s tragic, fatal fire.Here’s how you can help right now:

• CASH DONATIONS:
  • You can now make a cash donation at any Sterling Savings Bank branch by specifying the “Burien Fire Fund.” NOTE: If you want to donate to a specific family, be sure to let the teller know the name of the family. Sterling Savings is located at 224 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien; phone is (206) 243-6869 (Lynda).
  • You can also donate to the Seattle Red Cross’ “Burien Apartment Fire Fund.” Make sure “Burien Apartment Fire Fund” is selected in the pull-down menu when you donate.
• CLOTHING & SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS:
  • Collins Chiropractic at 619 SW 152nd Street;  206-242-0998, contact: Lindsay
  • Sterling Savings Bank at 224 SW 152nd Street; 206-243-6869, contact Lynda
• LARGER ITEMS:
  • As of Thursday, July 10th, larger furniture items can be dropped off at Sunnydale School in Burien, located at 15631 Des Moines Memorial Drive. If you have a larger item, please call either Erin or Lindsay at Collins Chiropractic (206-242-0998), or Lynda at Sterling Savings (206-243-6869) to make arrangements for pick up of the item(s) if the person has no way to deliver the item to Sunnydale.
• FUNDRAISERS:
  • This coming Sunday July 6th, from 5pm-9pm at Bison Creek Pizza located at 630 SW 153rd Street (206-244-8825) – Sickamore, Jonn Rockwell, Skwish & the Mighty Return of Horsehedd will be playing at an outdoor all-ages bash; small household items, clothing and cash donations will be collected at this event.
  • Wednesday July 16th, from 6pm on, at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub located at 435 SW 152nd Street – a special Silent and Live Auction fundraiser for the families with live music and much more.  If you have items to donate to either auction – contact Patty Sader at Discover Burien 206-433-2882.

Be sure to mark your calendars for Wed. July 16th, as there will be a major Burien Fire Victim fundraiser with live music, silent and live auctions and much more at Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub at 435 SW 152nd in downtown Burien.

Further info will be coming soon, so stay tuned to the B-Town Blog for exclusive information.

In the meantime, if you’d like to donate, look at the right sidebar of this page and you’ll see what appears to be a new “Ad,” but is actually a call to action for all our faithful and generous B-Town Blog Readers to donate to the American Red Cross’ “Burien Apartment Fire Fund.”

All donations will go directly to the victims of last weekend’s tragic fire that killed three, injured six and left dozens homeless.

Latest news developments:

• On Monday, the King County Sheriff’s Office declared that the fire that destroyed the eight-unit Tara Apartments and heavily damaged the identical Jenny Marie Apartments in the 400 block of Southwest 155th Street was arson. Investigators aren’t releasing what specifically led them to conclude it was arson, said sheriff’s spokesman John Urquhart.
• The fire is being investigated by King County Fire Investigators and the Major Crimes Unit of the Sheriff’s Office.
• A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of whoever is responsible. Anyone with information about the arson should call the Sheriff’s Office immediately at (206) 296-3311.
• According to the Sheriff’s Office, the fire caused about $1.75 million in damage. But for many of those left homeless, the fire consumed belongings that will be difficult to calculate in dollar amounts.

If you’re interested in helping out (either with donations to the upcoming auction event or your assistance in helping get the word out), please email us ASAP.

UPDATE 2:30pm 6/30/08: The tragic apartment fire that killed three early Sunday has been determined as being arson and a $10,000 reward has been set for information leading to an arrest.

Lots of generous B-Town Blog Readers have been asking how they can help the victims, and here’s what we recommend for now since relief efforts are still developing:

• Donate online directly to a “Burien Apartment Fire” fund courtesy the American Red Cross. The Red Cross website says:

“Help the Red Cross provide food, shelter and hope to the victims of the Burien Apartment fire. All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. By making a gift to this fund, your gift will be used to provide assistance to individuals and families affected by the fire. If you would prefer to make a gift to support the thousands of disasters the Red Cross responds to each year across the country, please select the National Disaster Relief Fund. If you wish to support disaster relief in our local community, please select the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties Fund.”

• Donate by phone: With a credit card, you can make a secure Red Cross donation over the phone weekdays between 8:30am – 5:00pm by dialing (206) 323-2345.  Make sure and specify that the donation goes toward the “Burien Apartment Fire”.
• Donate by snail mail: Send a check or money order to the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties with “Burien Apartment Fire” in the Memo Field and mail it to:

Seattle Red Cross
P.O. Box 3097
Seattle, WA 98114-3097

• As of today, here are local businesses that are accepting donated goods for the fire victims:
  • Sterling Savings Bank, located at 224 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien is accepting and holding donations; contact number is (206) 243-6869
  • Collins Chiropractic, located at 619 SW 152nd in downtown Burien is accepting and holding donations; contact Lindsay at (206) 242-0998

NOTE: Until we gather more info on the victims, we recommend that our Readers either donate cash directly to the Red Cross, or purchase Gift Cards to local businesses and drop them off at either Sterling Savings or Collins Chiropractic.

Until we know specific needs and sizes we recommend NOT donating clothing yet – stick to either cash or Gift Cards for now.

If you own a business, or are a BTB Reader who wishes to help, please email us – our goal is to serve as the online resource for assisting our neighbors in need, and this effort is only just beginning.

Teams from the King County Fire Investigation Unit are scheduled to return this morning to the site of Sunday morning’s fatal fire that killed three, injured six and left over 30 homeless.

Fire investigators have not determined a cause for the fire which destroyed the Tara Apartments at 455 SW 155th, and badly damaged the neighboring Jenny Maria Apartments at 429 SW 155th shortly after 12:30am Sunday.

Officials with the King County Sheriff’s Office have said the fire appears suspicious.

The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Burien Presbyterian Church, where they are assisting dozens of tenants displaced by the fire .

The B-Town Blog is planning on doing both a physical and an online fundraising campaign to help the victims, so stay tuned.

If you’re a local business or resident interested in helping out, please send us an email.

After manning our booth at today’s beautiful, hot final day of the Strawberry Festival, we took a very deep breath, then drove solemnly by the remnants of last night’s tragic, fatal fire (Burien’s worst in two decades) that left three people dead, six injured and 31 homeless:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

We then went over to Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, where the Red Cross has set up a shelter for the 31 displaced people and talked with volunteers there. Out of respect for the families, we opted not to take photos, as the survivors gathered had just been informed of the three deaths (and several were related or very close to the victims).

It’s sad whenever a tragedy like this hits a community, and this one hit hard, as the following comment by an eyewitness posted on Craigslist attests to:

We were woken by sirens about 12:45 am. This is so incredibly sad. The entire complex was engulfed before fire fighters arrived. Three confirmed dead now (Go to KIRO’s website for pictures and story). One of whom is an 8 year old boy whom was a former classmate and friend of my daughter. His Grandfather also died and one other person. It also moved to the apartments next door and damaged 3/4 of that building as well. We could stand in our front parking lot..see and feel the flames….that close to us.

No one knows what happened yet. Fireworks? Electrical? (Loud bang could have even been the water tanks exploding. Even if it was due to someone being stupid, the loss of lives is horrendous. I saw a woman sobbing, and I was told by a man who knows them, that she is the mother of the young boy. So she lost 2 loved ones.

Please be kind no matter what the outcome is, and hold the familys close. Good thoughts, prayers, chanting, lighting candles….what ever you do.

Thank YOU “B-Town Blog” for the story I know you’ll do with excellence. I’m only sorry your stories aren’t all full of ’strawberry festival’ happiness.

Thank you.

A very saddened neighbor who knew the child personally. (Telling my child she lost her friend was so damned hard to do.)

Rest assured that the B-Town Blog plans on doing whatever it can to help those in need, so stay tuned for some positive, uplifting events soon…

UPDATE 4pm 6/29/08: Officials say that last night’s fatal apartment fire that killed three may have been deliberately set.

Neighbors said the dead included an 8-year-old boy and his grandfather, but officials would not confirm that.

Emergency officials confirmed that the three dead were found in two units, one above the other, in one of the apartment buildings.

Here’s two raw video clips of the fire we found today apparently taken by a neighbor from across the street:

Video from KING-TV is here.

If you have any photos or video of this tragedy, please email us at tips@b-townblog.com.

UPDATE: A major three-alarm fire in Burien last night left three people dead, injured six and left around 50 people homeless.

The fire, in the 400 block of SW 155th Street, was reported at about 12:45am Sunday morning.

“I heard an explosion and glass shattering,” said Lisa Johnson, who a resident of the apartment building. “So I automatically had my granddaughter with me and came out.”

“The streets were just filled with people running and screaming … and the apartment was in flames,” she said.

The first fire crews roared in, sirens wailing and horns blaring, to find a two-story apartment building with heavy fire and smoke pouring from the front of the building, said Dave Nelson, spokesman for King County Fire District 20.

The two-alarm blaze quickly escalated to a three-alarm fire when an adjacent apartment building’s roof caught fire, and more fire crews were needed to battle the spreading flames.

Kenneth Mason, who lives nearby, came running when he saw the crackling flames and that’s when he spotted five people, including a baby, trapped behind a jammed-shut glass door in the burning building.

Mason yelled at a woman in the trapped group.

“I said, ‘Get out! Get out! There’s a fire! There’s a fire!’ and she said, ‘We can’t get out!’ And my friend Sam grabbed a big old brick and went and busted the glass door,” he said.

“And they threw the baby out and gave me the baby, and the rest of the guys came out – and then the fire really got bad.”

Amid the mayhem, a teenage girl jumped from a second-story window in another part of the building, suffering injuries.

Ladder trucks from Tukwila and Renton were able to pour water from above while King County firefighters took a defensive position to stop the fire from spreading to two other buildings.

The first building was completely destroyed and the second building suffered major damage.

Six people were treated at area hospitals, including the girl who jumped from her window. Other injuries include burns and smoke inhalation.

As of Sunday morning, fire officials were still accounting for occupants of both buildings. Many people went with family and friends and to Highline Medical Center to be with family members who were injured.

No firefighters were injured battling the fire.

Firefighters from around South King County assisted in fighting the fire including Renton, Tukwila, Kent, Seatac, South King Fire and Rescue, North Highline, King County Medic One, King County Fire District 20, Seattle and King County Sheriff Fire Marshals Office.

The Seattle Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting nearly 50 displaced people and sheltering them at a local school.

Firefighters will remain on scene to assist in the investigation.

At this time due to the building’s weakness fire investigators will have to wait until its safe to go inside the first building to determine the cause.

Damage estimates are not available at this time.

Stay tuned to the B-Town Blog for an online fundraising drive to help your neighbors in need.

SOURCE:

• KOMO News

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