Major Fire in Queen Anne Traps Operator
A multi-agency response was required in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood after a cherry picker struck power lines, causing an explosion and a natural gas fire. The operator of the lift truck was trapped for hours before being rescued. The Seattle Fire Department managed the simultaneous electrical and gas hazards, coordinating with utility crews to extinguish the fire. The incident serves as a case study in the complex, high-stakes emergencies common in Seattle's urban environment.
- The incident required a highly specific response sequence: firefighters could not rescue the operator or extinguish the main fire until Seattle City Light crews de-energized the high-voltage power lines, a process that took about two hours. - Three specialized Seattle Fire Department teams were deployed: the Hazardous Materials team for the gas leak, a Rescue company for the operator, and an energy response team to handle the high-voltage lines. - The initial fire originated from the cherry picker's own fuel line, which ignited when the lift contacted the power lines, and this fire then spread to a natural gas line on the sidewalk below. - Firefighters applied a thick layer of biodegradable foam on the surrounding streets and vehicles to suppress flammable vapors and prevent the natural gas fire from spreading to nearby buildings. - The rescue of the operator, who was uninjured, was performed using an aerial ladder once the electrical hazard was eliminated. - The incident prompted the evacuation of a nearby apartment building after crews detected natural gas readings inside the structure. - Coordinated efforts with Puget Sound Energy were critical; their crews had to dig three access points along Queen Anne Avenue North to reach and shut off the ruptured gas line, which was accomplished around 1:30 p.m. - The power outage caused by the incident initially affected approximately 525 Seattle City Light customers in the Queen Anne area.
