A fire and explosion injured one man at auto repair shop in Kent at about 10:40 a.m. Monday in the 15300 block of Southeast 272nd Street, also known as Kent Kangley Road.
Paramedics transported the shop employee to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries, according to the Kent Fire Department Regional Fire Authority. Firefighters extinguished the fire. Fire officials described the scene as a big oil mess.
Firefighters from Kent, Maple Valley and King County District 44 responded. The shop’s sprinkler system controlled most of the fire. But the uncontrolled water cascading from the ceiling forced motor oil and other petroleum products into the parking lot and into the storm drain system.
Firefighters used absorbent pads to soak up as much oil as possible, and to keep the pollution from getting outside the immediate property. According to the state Department of Ecology, which was called to the scene, approximately 150 gallons of oil was spilled. All of the oil was contained on site and none got into nearby Jenkins Creek.
The shop is east of Lake Meridian Park and west of Covington.
A fire investigator ruled the explosion to be accidental, but didn't have a specific cause. Fire officials said it wasn't caused by welding or other similar work.