SEQUIM — The fire that destroyed an apartment complex in downtown Sequim last week highlighted two concerns local fire officials have with emergency responses in this fast-growing town:
* The addition of decorative planters at downtown crosswalks.
* The need for a ladder truck for fighting fires in tall buildings.
The planters, which were placed in the turning lane at midblock crosswalks on Washington Street to protect pedestrians, made it hard for fire trucks to maneuver last Wednesday when a suspected electrical problem ignited a large blaze at 140 E. Washington St., said Richard Vogel, chief of Clallam County Fire District No. 3.
The fire district’s territory includes the city of Sequim.
The large firefighting crew assembled to fight the fire included ladder trucks from Port Angeles and Port Townsend, which were used to contain the fire from above, extinguishing hot spots and ensuring that the flames didn’t spread to neighboring buildings.
The fire burned for several hours and destroyed the Grey Wolf River Apartments building, displacing residents of all 13 units as well as two businesses. The remains of the building will be demolished.
Early criticism of planters
Vogel had previously voiced concerns about the planters. He said they would keep emergency vehicles from bypassing traffic using the center turning lane on Washington Street, the main east-west street of Sequim.
Some city leaders responded that cars would be blocking the way even if the planters weren’t there.
The concrete flower boxes also prevent cars from zooming down the middle turn lane past traffic stacked up at the Washington Street-Sequim Avenue intersection, a practice that endangers people crossing the street in the middle of the block.
Fortunately for firefighters, Vogel said, there was very little traffic and few parked cars on East Washington when the early morning fire was reported.
“We had to work around [the planters],” Vogel said.
“The best thing is the fire was at 6 o’clock in the morning, so there wasn’t a lot of on-street parking. The Police Department was able to isolate the block.
“If the fire had been later in the day, it would have been a lot more difficult.”
The planters were removed last weekend for the Irrigation Festival Grand Parade but have since been reinstalled.
