Explosive fire destroys downtown buildings in Bothell

Published 1:30 am Friday, July 22, 2016

BOTHELL — Stephan Mourer was locking up the downtown Bothell pub where he tends bar just before 3 a.m. Friday when he heard an explosion. Flames were filling the six-story mercantile building under construction on the next block.

“I was 100 yards away, and the heat was intense,” Mourer said.

His conversation with a 911 operator was punctuated by two more explosions as the fire’s heat set off combustibles.

“That’s when the building’s top blew up,” he said.

More than 90 firefighters from King and Snohomish counties descended on the four-alarm fire. Most affected were two blocks on Main Street, the focus of Bothell’s revitalization efforts. At least 20 businesses sustained significant damage and won’t immediately reopen. Two buildings were destroyed: the mercantile and the Bothell Mall, which housed the Kozy Corner Cafe. No one was hurt.

“My heart is just heavy,” Mayor Andy Rheaume told reporters. “It’s like having the middle burnt out of the city … It’s really upsetting.”

The fire does not appear suspicious, Fire Chief Bob Van Horne said. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, also known as ATF, is involved because of the complexity of the scene, he said.

A damage estimate was not provided Friday but it likely will total in the millions of dollars, based on property values.

Crews still were battling flareups Friday evening. It was unclear when downtown and Main Street might reopen. Many neighboring buildings suffered damage from heat, fire, smoke and water. The fire was so hot it melted a crane at the construction site.

The runoff from the fire hoses swept charred debris down Main Street and into the nearby Sammamish River. Work crews shoveled the streets clear. A Department of Ecology team also was monitoring the river for potential environmental impacts.

Rheaume urged people to visit local businesses on Saturday to shop and eat. As a kid, he took pictures with Santa Claus at the mall, making the loss feel personal, he said.

“We will get through this together,” he said.

The fire apparently started at the historical mercantile building at 10201 Main Street, north of Highway 522. The site was under renovation to become a mix of retail space and apartments. The project was supposed to incorporate brick facades and other elements from the original building, which dated back to 1908, according to the architectural firm’s website.

Exposed timber and the lack of finished drywall in the building may have contributed to the fire’s speed, Van Horne said.

The mercantile building is owned by a limited-liability company with a Seattle address, according to property records. The 2016 appraised value was $4.31 million. The cafe, meanwhile, was part of the Bothell Mall at 10137 Main Street. The mall complex dates back to 1926, and the cafe portion was appraised at $1.75 million. The value of the entire complex, which includes about a half-dozen businesses, was not clear Friday. The Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce also lists Level Seven Salon, Harmony Massage and Leela Yoga Studios as tenants.

Northeast of the mercantile is Zulu’s Board Game Cafe. Embers from the blaze started two fires on the deck and landed on the roof, owner Matt Zaremba said. He had left the business about 2:40 a.m. At home 10 minutes later, he checked his security camera and saw a large amount of light coming into his business.

He got back in his car.

“The fire was like a mountain,” he said. Despite some flooding, he planned to reopen Friday evening.

“All the important stuff, kitchen, and most of the main floor is fine,” he said.

Neville Redman, owner of the 3 Lions Pub on Main Street, was inside his business when the fire started. He set up a station for firefighters with sandwiches, water and sports drinks.

“I think it’s just a way of saying thanks,” Redman said.

Beardslee Public House and Wildwood Spirits Co. plan to host a Kozy Corner Cafe and Zulu’s Board Game Cafe Day of Support on Monday and Wednesday.

Bothell Reporter writer Aaron Kunkler contributed to this story.