A large, two story home caught fire in the 1400 block of SW Miller Creek Road in Normandy Park late Friday night (Jan. 20), and was extinguished around 3:15 a.m. by the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department along with help from North Highline, SeaTac and South King Fire.

“The call came in at about 9:30 p.m.,” said spokesman Doug Leudeman. “It was a fireplace-chimney fire that spread into the attic and burned off about 1/3 of the roof with about 300k damage. The folks living there are going to be displaced for a while. Our crews were on the scene until about 3 am and there were no injuries to the residents or the firefighters.”

The first fire engine to arrive (from the Normandy Road station), reported heavy fire involvement of the attic and second story of a large, two-story residence.

“Agency forecasters were tracking a new weather system expected to arrive last night,” reads a press release. “Winds from that system are now dispersing the air pollution that built up across the Puget Sound over the past week.”

Here’s more from the announcement:

We appreciate the public’s cooperation with the burn ban. We encourage people to check current air quality and burn ban status before they burn. Conditions can change quickly this time of year. To check burn ban status, sign up for clean air news where you can:

• Receive e-mail notification of burn bans
• Follow us on Twitter/Facebook
• Subscribe to R.P.I.N. and EnviroFlash
• Visit our Web site www.pscleanair.org
• Call our burn ban InfoLine at 1-800-595-4341

For those who heat with wood, please remember that it is always illegal to emit excess chimney smoke or to smoke out your neighbor, burn ban or not. You know you are burning properly when you do not see any smoke coming from your chimney. And burning garbage is always illegal.

For more information:

• Updated air pollution data and forecasts
• Frequently asked questions about burn bans
• How to heat efficiently and cleanly
• Sign up for clean air news

“To protect residents from worsening air quality, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is issuing a Stage 1 burn ban for King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties, effective at 4:00 p.m. January 11, 2012, until further notice,” reads a press release.

High pressure over the Puget Sound region will bring cold temperatures and calm winds, according to Clean Air Agency forecasters. Air quality is expected to deteriorate at least through Friday, especially in communities where residential wood burning is common.

Clean Air Agency staff follow a protocol set by state law to determine when and where to issue a burn ban, and when to lift a burn ban.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. 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. The only exception is if a wood stove is a home’s only adequate source of heat.
• No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires and the use of fire pits and chimineas.
• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

It is OK to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children, and older adults (over age 65).

The purpose of a burn ban is to reduce the amount of pollution that is creating unhealthy air. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency staff will continue to monitor the situation.

For more information:

• Frequently asked questions about burn bans
• How can one tell if their wood stove is certified, and OK to use during a Stage 1 burn ban?  Age matters – if the stove is over 20 years old, it is likely uncertified and prohibited for use during a burn ban.  Uncertified wood stoves are no longer legal to sell or purchase in the State of Washington due to the significant pollution they generate.  A certified stove will have an EPA label on the back.

If you happen to drive by the vacant lot that once held Burien’s Interim Art Space Tuesday, you might notice some stuff is being moved in – today fences were installed and Honey Buckets brought in, all in preparation for this Saturday’s SeaCompression: Mocktoberfest

This will be the 10th annual ‘decompression party,’ which is produced mostly by local ‘Burners,’ or artists who attend the Burning Man Festival every August. This Saturday, they promise that they’ll be “stuffing two acres of downtown Burien with Fire, Music and Art.”

Tickets are $15 – $40, and can be purchased online here.

Over the next few days expect to see more stuff moved in – shipping containers (to be used for vendors, etc.) tents, more gear and finally various art installations, as this vacant lot turns into Burien’s own Black Rock this Saturday night.

SeaCompression previously was housed at the Sand Point Magnuson warehouses, but is moving to B-Town this year thanks to local arts peeps Kathy Justin (who was on site Tuesday) and Dane Johnson.

SeaCompression is an annual fundraising festival for Ignition Northwest, a non-profit, volunteer driven, 501(c)3 community arts board that funds a variety of annual art and educational programs.

Here’s the floorplan for Saturday’s party:

Click image to see larger version.

Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer noticed the line of Honey Buckets and immediate screeched his car to a halt. Sadly, they weren’t yet ready for use, so instead he just whipped out his camera and took these pics:

On Tuesday (Oct. 11), numerous Honey Buckets were unloaded in the former B/ IAS lot, where 'SeaCompression:Mocktoberfest' will be held this Saturday night.

If you happen to get locked out of your Town Square condo this weekend, at least you'll know where to find a Honey Bucket. And fire. And live DJs. And art. And food. And drink. And...

Here’s more info from our previous post:

“We invite you to come celebrate with two full acres of theme camps, interactive displays, fire spinners, DJs, live music and performers, dance, art cars, grilled cheese, suspension rigs, small blimps, neon rainbows, and every other odd thing we can think of,” reads the release. “Imagine one city block of Burning Man being transported – streets and all – to downtown Burien!

SeaCompression is a 21 and over event, because, along with all the fire, performers and grilled cheese(!), there will be five highly decorated theme bars serving a wide range of tasty adult concoctions.

There will also be several local food vendors on site, as well as a variety of special treats throughout the evening.

SeaCompression will have two different sound stages performing a wide variety of musical acts, including a DJ-driven dance hall, with 10 different DJs spinning dance tunes though the night. There is also a performance stage with an amazing lineup of fire spinners, musical acts and other performances.

SeaCompression is an annual fundraising festival for Ignition Northwest, a non-profit, volunteer driven, 501(c)3 community arts board that funds a variety of annual art and educational programs.

Tickets are pre-sale $25 (buy them online here), and $40 at the door.

You can bet your buddies at The B-Town Blog will be there, both covering this event as well as enjoying it!

Here are the details:

WHAT: ‘Seacompression: Mocktoberfest” Celebration with “theme camps, interactive displays, fire spinners, DJs, live music and performers, dance, art cars, grilled cheese, suspension rigs, small blimps, neon rainbows, and every other odd thing we can think of…”

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15th starting at 6 p.m.

WHERE: The empty lot once occupied by B/ IAS, located at 500 SW 151st Street just north of Burien Town Square.

TICKETS: Tickets are pre-sale $25 / $40 at the door.

INFO: For more info, go to Seacompression.org.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239540092735597

VIDEOS: Here are some videos from previous SeaCompressions:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s even more:

SeaCompression typically features a wide range of art that includes large scale kinetic sculptures, art cars and buses, fire art, and sound & light shows. You might see random oddities such as a 30′ neon rainbow, a remote controlled blimp, a 12′ tall bundle of grapes, or a hydrodynamic science project that mixes fire and water in a 6′ whirlpool.

SeaCompression has been running annually since 2002. It takes place in Autumn, typically in late October or early November. It has been held at the Fremont UnConventional Center, the Ballard Segway, Consolidated Works, and Sand Point Magnusson Park. Ignition Northwest and its event producers have worked closely with City of Seattle Fire Marshals, Parks Department staff, and private property owners, and a professional security team to ensure that our events are managed responsibly with minimal impact on the surrounding community.

SeaCompression is sponsored by Ignition Northwest and is produced by an all-volunteer staff. Proceeds help fund large scale public art projects, an annual scholarship to Pratt art school and other educational projects throughout the year.

Photo montage by Michael Holden http://michaelholden.com

The last time there was any fire on the lot where the Burien Interim Art Space was once located was when candles flickered inside pumpkins in Nov., 2009 – but get ready to burn again B-Town, as the largest Burning Man Community outside of San Francisco will be bringing ‘SeaCompression: Mocktoberfest‘ to that space Oct. 15th!

This will be the group’s 10th annual ‘decompression party,’ and according to a press release, they’ll be “stuffing two acres of downtown Burien with Fire, Music and Art.”

“We invite you to come celebrate with two full acres of theme camps, interactive displays, fire spinners, DJs, live music and performers, dance, art cars, grilled cheese, suspension rigs, small blimps, neon rainbows, and every other odd thing we can think of,” reads the release. “Imagine one city block of Burning Man being transported – streets and all – to downtown Burien!

SeaCompression is a 21 and over event, because, along with all the fire, performers and grilled cheese(!), there will be five highly decorated theme bars serving a wide range of tasty adult concoctions.

There will also be several local food vendors on site, as well as a variety of special treats throughout the evening.

SeaCompression will have two different sound stages performing a wide variety of musical acts, including a DJ-driven dance hall, with 10 different DJs spinning dance tunes though the night. There is also a performance stage with an amazing lineup of fire spinners, musical acts and other performances.

SeaCompression is an annual fundraising festival for Ignition Northwest, a non-profit, volunteer driven, 501(c)3 community arts board that funds a variety of annual art and educational programs.

Tickets are pre-sale $25 (buy them online here), and $40 at the door.

You can bet your buddies at The B-Town Blog will be there, both covering this event as well as enjoying it!

Here are the details:

WHAT: ‘Seacompression: Mocktoberfest” Celebration with “theme camps, interactive displays, fire spinners, DJs, live music and performers, dance, art cars, grilled cheese, suspension rigs, small blimps, neon rainbows, and every other odd thing we can think of…”

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 15th starting at 6 p.m.

WHERE: The empty lot once occupied by B/ IAS, located at 500 SW 151st Street just north of Burien Town Square.

TICKETS: Tickets are pre-sale $25 / $40 at the door.

INFO: For more info, go to Seacompression.org.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239540092735597

VIDEOS: Here are some videos from previous SeaCompressions:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s even more:

SeaCompression typically features a wide range of art that includes large scale kinetic sculptures, art cars and buses, fire art, and sound & light shows. You might see random oddities such as a 30′ neon rainbow, a remote controlled blimp, a 12′ tall bundle of grapes, or a hydrodynamic science project that mixes fire and water in a 6′ whirlpool.

SeaCompression has been running annually since 2002. It takes place in Autumn, typically in late October or early November. It has been held at the Fremont UnConventional Center, the Ballard Segway, Consolidated Works, and Sand Point Magnusson Park. Ignition Northwest and its event producers have worked closely with City of Seattle Fire Marshals, Parks Department staff, and private property owners, and a professional security team to ensure that our events are managed responsibly with minimal impact on the surrounding community.

SeaCompression is sponsored by Ignition Northwest and is produced by an all-volunteer staff. Proceeds help fund large scale public art projects, an annual scholarship to Pratt art school and other educational projects throughout the year.

Photo courtesy Union Gospel Mission.

On Sunday, July 24^th, the Union Gospel Mission’s Lighthouse Apartment building, located at 9820 Des Moines Memorial Way, burned down in a huge three-alarm fire, leaving 41 low-income residents homeless.

Everyone was able to get out, but two people were sent to Harborview Medical Center with injuries. Both are said to be recovering well.

“We lost everything…” said one former resident.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP
We’ve done this a couple times before (read about our fundraising for the victims of the 2008 Tara Apartment fire here, and the Buckley Family here), and we’d like to ask our Readers to do what they can to help these poor folks, many of whom have lost everything.

According to the Union Gospel Mission website, of the 41 displaced residents who watched all of their belongings go up in flames, only one had renters insurance. Most didn’t have car insurance beyond liability – 9 cars were damaged and 5 completely destroyed.

These people no longer have transportation to commute to their jobs.

Also, Becci Surgz Harrison is pitching in – here’s a message she sent us through Facebook:

I just feel it necessary to try to help if I can I am coordinating donations.

Here is a list of immediate needs but obviously they need much more:

• Tube Socks
• Household items
• Non-perishable food
• Mattresses/box springs (twin, full, queen): gently used, no rips or stains
• Gift cards (grocery, Target, Fred Meyer, shoe stores)
• Razors & shaving cream
• Bottled water (individual size)
• Men’s clothing (jeans and khakis particularly needed)
• Full size toiletry items
• Bath linens

Please email me surgzpromotions@gmail.com for more info.

Thank you!

Here are other ways to help:

• Shelter. Everyone was set up with emergency shelter just hours after the blaze started, but more permanent housing is needed.  Please contact Gary if you can help provide shelter for displaced residents.
• Donate Now. Funds raised will help those impacted by the fire.
• Gift Cards for Target, Fred Meyer, grocery and shoe stores.  Mail to:
• P.O. Box 202
  Seattle 98111
  Attention: “Lighthouse Apartment Fire”
• Gifts in Kind. Drop-off clothing, house wares, toiletries, etc. See complete list of needs or contact Linda at 206.723.0767 x405.

To learn more, please contact Gary at 206.723.0767 x441.

“The Red Cross will be providing assistance which could include shelter, food, clothing and other immediate needs,” according to an email from Katherine Boury, Seattle Red Cross Media Relations Officer.

“It was a minor fire caused by bedding and mattress against a baseboard heater,” said Doug Luedeman of the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department. “The fire was contained in the bedroom and quickly extinguished by the fire department. There were no working smoke detectors in the home at the time. There was nobody home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries to fire personnel.”

“On average, the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties responds to an emergency like this every other day. All Red Cross assistance is free. For more information about the Red Cross please go to www.seattleredcross.org.”

PREVIOUSLY: We encourage all our Readers to participate in our community news gathering efforts (you can email us tips & photos here), and here’s an example of one such submission from BTB Reader Desiree Gonzalez – a photo of a residential fire in a complex just north of SW 132nd and First Ave South in Burien at around Noon on Tuesday, July 12th:

Click image to see larger version.

We’ve inquired about this incident with the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department, and once we gather more info, we’ll update this post.

If you happen upon something newsworthy in the Burien area, please take a photo and email it to us: editor@b-townblog.com.

Please include your name, location of the event and any other info you can find, and pending review, we’ll likely post it.

Sounds good, huh?

Well, all was well and good until the engine caught fire, and according to an unidentified Burien/Normandy Park firefighter, “someone from the shore called the fire department, and here we all are.”

Three fire engines and a Medic One arrived at the scene Tuesday evening.

A few excited neighbors witnessed the boat and passengers coming to shore with no apparent injuries.

BTB Sales Diva Janet Grella lives on the beach and sent us the following photos:

As we previously reported, an electrical fire hit The MARK on Wednesday morning (March 16), toasting up the main electrical box, burning out four 200-amp service boxes, causing the sprinklers to go off and of course some subsequent water damage.

The cause of the fire, at least according to Doug Gunns of All-Ways Electrical (who fixed the electrical and restored power), appeared to NOT be related to the installation of a new espresso machine.

Doug told us Friday that the breakers were from the 70s, and the design was such that they’d actually vibrate. Vibration of course causes friction, which causes heat, and these aging breakers apparently reached their breaking point Wednesday morning around 10:30am.

Debra says “Thanks to the city, as well as Seattle City Light and our Electrician Doug Gunns, we were able to get everything back to 100% working order within 48 hours!”

Power was fully restored around 11:40am Friday morning, and the restaurant now has a brand new electrical box, replacing the aging (and now charred) one inherited from the previous tenant, Jim Moore’s.

Debra says they’ll be serving corned beef and cabbage all weekend, and will also have some sort of fire-related drink specials, so be sure to stop in and welcome them back to business!

Oh, and be sure to tell them you heard about it on The B-Town Blog!

The MARK is located at 918 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien.

Hello Scott – Lots of people are asking Debra and Chris how they can help, after the “fire” and water damage closed The MARK for a while (read the original story here).

Since those two are so very generous to the community in a great many ways, here is my idea of how we can help:

Let’s declare next week “MARK Week,” and encourage people to go out and eat at the MARK, as soon as it is open again. They will have lost revenue, especially since St.Patrick’s Day would have been “big,” and staff are out of work for a few days as well.

If all the restaurant’s “regulars,” as well as a bunch of new customers, all come to eat and drink next week, it might make up for being closed this week.

If you think this is a reasonable idea, maybe you will promote it.

I will be sending e-mails to all my friends and asking them to do the same.

- Barbara Reamer

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Have an opinion on something? Please email us a "Letter to the Editor" by clicking here. Be sure to include your real name and a way to contact you, and, pending our review, we'll most likely post it.]