VIDEO/PHOTOS: A fire that erupted in the commercial kitchen of the Cheesecake Factory in downtown Seattle Saturday morning led to significant road closures and a large emergency response.
The Seattle Fire Department received multiple 911 calls at 9:09 a.m. reporting the blaze. on the 700 block of Pike Street. The fire, which originated in the restaurant’s kitchen, quickly spread into the building’s ventilation system, prompting an upgrade to a 2-alarm fire.
Authorities closed all lanes on 7th Avenue between Pine Street and Union Street, as well as on Pike Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue, to facilitate the emergency response. Firefighters swiftly arrived on the scene, deploying water to control the flames and conducting a thorough search of the building. The fire was brought under control by 10:15 a.m., according to the Seattle Fire Department.
To clear the smoke, crews utilized several methods, including the building’s ventilation system and the Seattle Fire Departmentโs Mobile Ventilation Unit (MVU1). The MVU1, operated by personnel from Fire Station 25, employs positive pressure ventilation to effectively remove smoke from large structures.
