EVERETT – Construction workers likely sparked the enormous blaze that destroyed one of the buildings of the Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center off Airport Road this afternoon, officials said.
Everett fire investigators believe sparks made while cutting metal atop the building’s roof started the fire, Everett Fire Department Assistant Chief Joe Johnston said.
The construction workers tried to douse the blaze, but it got away from them and quickly spread.
As dozens of firefighters battled the fire in heavy winds, flames leaped off the roof of the building and a dark plume could be seen as far away as Brier.
There were huge clouds of black smoke and the wind was blowing it onto roadways nearby affecting visibility. The center at 9001 Airport Road is near the Boeing Co. plant.
One firefighter was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. He slipped in the parking lot, officials said.
Spectators lined fences around the fire watching the firefighters work.
Sno-Isle is home to 835 students who split time between the center and their high schools. Classes at the school were canceled Wednesday, school district officials said.
High school students had already left classes for the day and school officials believe no one was inside the building.
The building – one of several on the campus – was undergoing extensive remodeling.
“It’s going to be a major disruption,” said Tom Clemans, a Sno-Isle teacher for 17 years, who is watching the flames.
“It’s really a lot of smoke,” said James Wilson, an Everett Community College student who is taking a machining class at night.
Zoltan Kuthy of Lynnwood, 60, also a night student at Sno-Isle, has been watching the fire from the campus parking lot. He said he can’t leave until the smoke clears.
Several hours after the fire began, crews still worked to put down flames. The building is a complete loss, Everett Fire Marshal Glen Martinsen said.
Everett city officials also canceled sports programs at Kasch Park tonight due to the smoke.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
