$11 million fire damage to partly finished Renton apartments

RENTON — Fire officials estimate some $11 million in damage from a five-alarm blaze that gutted a luxury apartment complex under construction in the Highlands neighborhood of Renton.

The Harrington Square development was nearly 50 percent finished when the fire broke out Tuesday night. No injuries were reported but the smoke was visible for miles in the Seattle area. Fire crews doused hot spots Wednesday with foam and water.

With the rubble still too hot to enter, KOMO-TV says investigators turned to developers, contractors and witnesses for clues to a cause.

Deputy Fire Chief Bill Flora says, “Our main focus at this point is the roofing contractors” and a “hot mop operation.” That reportedly involves heating roofing material to make a seal.

Information from: KOMO-TV, www.komotv.com/

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