Large fire at wood manufacturer in Arlington prompts all-day response

Published 9:43 am Wednesday, July 22, 2026

EVERETT — Authorities believe no one was injured in a large, two-alarm fire at an industrial manufacturer in Arlington on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were still on scene as of Wednesday afternoon, more than 10 hours after employees reported a fire at the Stella-Jones Corporation off 188th Street Northeast, east of the Arlington Municipal Airport, according to the North County Regional Fire Authority and the city of Arlington.

Fire crews from four local agencies spent the day operating a defensive strategy to control the fire after first responding shortly before 5 a.m., Kari Wheeler, a spokesperson for the fire authority, told The Daily Herald.

The material burning at the wood manufacturer was prolonging the response and crews were still putting water on the fire as of 3 p.m., but the fire was not a threat to any nearby buildings, Wheeler said.

Four blocks of 188th Street between the 6300 and 6700 were closed on Wednesday near the site of the fire and people were asked to avoid the area.

At 7 a.m., city officials warned residents to avoid using water for the next few hours, according to a post on Facebook.

“When firefighters open fire hydrants to fight a fire, this creates a high water flow through the City’s water mains,” the post said. “This sudden surge can loosen sediment inside the pipes. As a result, some residents may notice temporary sediment, discoloration, or brown water in their taps.

“This is not harmful, but please avoid using water for the next few hours to allow the sediment to settle in the lines. If you need to use water, please use cold water until the color of the water clears.”

The Washington Department of Ecology responded to the fire to evaluate any environmental impacts from the fire, Wheeler said.

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office and North County Regional Fire Authority will be responsible for investigating what caused the fire, according to a release.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the last name of the North County Regional Fire Authority spokesperson. Her correct name is Kari Wheeler.

Ian Davis-Leonard: 425-339-3097; ian.davis-leonard@heraldnet.com