PORT ANGELES — A power storage battery unit caught fire at The Landing mall, and was still burning at 2 p.m. with no estimate of when the fire will be out.
The fire triggered an evacuation of the waterfront landmark and forced the closure of Railroad Avenue and City Pier due to firefighting vehicles and concerns about the smoke from the electrical fire.
Firefighters from Port Angeles Fire Department isolated a small battery room in the northeast corner of the building, where water and smoke poured out of vents above three glass doors.
The batteries receive and store power from a wind and solar array on The Landing property.
The fire was contained in the battery room, which has its own fire suppression system, and isolated the fire and smoke to the one small compartment where the battery system is stored, according to fire officials.
The room at the complex’s northeast corner is one story below the private dining area of Downriggers restaurant.
Firefighters were cautious in entering the building because of high voltage in the room, even after city of Port Angeles workers turned off power to the building.
Sprinkler systems in the rest of the building were not triggered, and the majority of the smoke from the fire was vented outside.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
