Marysville foundry fire’s source still unknown

Published 11:04 pm Thursday, September 24, 2009

MARYSVILLE — Investigators on Thursday still were trying to figure out what sparked a dangerous blaze Wednesday night at a Marysville business.

Officials at first believed the fire caused nearly $2 million in damage but determined that number likely was too high, Marysville Fire District spokeswoman Kristen Thorstenson said.

The business, Thomas Machine and Foundry, expects to reopen next week.

Industrial sprinklers helped keep the fire from spreading out of control and protected much of the property, she said.

The blaze broke out just before 9 p.m. Wednesday in the two-story building in the 13100 block of 41st Avenue NE.

It’s not clear what started the blaze, Marysville Fire Marshal Tom Maloney said Thursday.

“The insurance company will be bringing in experts to try to determine the cause,” he said.

Materials inside the building, including about 900 pounds of molten aluminum contained in a furnace, posed serious threats to the firefighters. Molten aluminum can explode if mixed with water, Thornstenson said.

Crews immediately called for a second alarm, summoning a total of more than 40 firefighters to the scene. No one was injured. Most of the damage in the blaze was contained to an area not crucial to the business, Thornstenson said.

“I anticipate being operational, in at least part of the building, Monday morning,” said Chuck Thomas, the business co-owner and general manager.

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office and Marysville police assisted in the investigation.

Crews from Everett, North County Fire, Silvana, Getchell and Arlington helped battle the blaze.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.