No structural damage from fire at Seattle bridge

Published 11:21 am Thursday, May 6, 2010

SEATTLE — A fire in a storage yard below the Ballard Bridge in Seattle scorched the structure but caused only minimal damage.

City bridge maintenance supervisor Greg Funk said the heat melted phone wires to the bridge tower, caused a little damage to the power lines for the drawspan and melted paint. But he says there is no structural damage and the bridge is operating normally today.

Fire Department spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said the fire broke out about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday and burned four small boats, a truck and wooden pallets.

Because flames charred the bridge above, Seattle Transportation Department inspectors were called. They reopened the bridge about 2 a.m. today and returned with daylight for a closer look.