Crews Battle 2 Alarm Fire At South Everett Paper Recycling Plant

Editor’s Update Friday March 22nd 6:00 AM, Here’s the recap from Leslie Hynes at South County Fire:

South County Fire responded to a two-alarm fire at a paper recycling warehouse near Paine Field Thursday night.

The fire was reported around 6:30 p.m. by an employee who discovered smoke and flames coming from a bale of newspaper and cardboard inside the Fibres International warehouse in the 2600 block of 94th Street SW in unincorporated Everett. Light smoke was coming from the building when firefighters arrived. Inside the smoke-filled warehouse they found fire burning in 50-foot stacks of paper bales.

South County Fire, the Everett Fire Department, the Mukilteo Fire Department, the Paine Field Fire Department and Boeing Fire responded. No one was injured.

Firefighters opened roof vents to clear smoke and improve visibility for crews working inside the warehouse. They had the fire controlled within an hour, but the paper bales continued to smolder. Heavy-duty forks lifts are being used to remove the bales from the warehouse. Outside, heavy equipment from Boeing is being used move the bales away from the building so Paine Field Fire’s foam truck can spray them down with firefighting foam. This work is expected to continue through most of the night.

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office is continuing to investigate how the fire started. It appears the cause is accidental. Fire damage to the structure is minimal, but there is significant smoke and water damage throughout the warehouse and adjoining offices.

Shortly after 6:30 PM Thursday crews from South Snohomish Fire, Paine Field Fire and Everett Fire were called to the Fibres International plant at 2600 94th Street SW east of Airport Road. Initial reports were that large paper bundles were on fire inside the plant.

The plant was evacuated and crews found at least one paper bundle on fire. South Snohomish Fire has command and crews have worked on ventilating the plant and also finding a way to attack the paper bundles that are burning. A second alarm has been called and additional crews from Lynnwood Fire, Mukilteo and Boeing Fire are on scene.

We will update as more information becomes available but as of 8:30 PM crews have been on an offensive attack.

9:15 PM Update: Foam trucks from Boeing Fire and Paine Field Fire were brought in to spray foam on the paper bundles. Large excavators were then brought in to break apart the paper bundles so crews could put out the last of the fire.