VIDEO: A vacant building near Seattle's Rainier Beach neighborhood caught fire early Wednesday morning, the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) confirmed.
Crews first responded to the building around 5:30 a.m. after callers reported heavy smoke emanating from it. Flames could be seen coming through the roof once crews arrived, and water was poured on the fire from a safe distance, an SFD spokesperson told KING 5 at the scene.
Crews did not enter the building due to a risk of collapse. SFD also told KING 5 that a nearby station keeps track of vacant buildings in the area, and this structure was known to SFD. It has been vacant for over a year, SFD said.
The fire was upgraded to a 2-alarm blaze and drew nine fire trucks and five support trucks, SFD said.