Cold Storage Facility Fire Destroys Frozen Fish Product

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A fire Saturday night destroyed a cold-storage facility and the frozen fish product stored inside, while an attached office area was not affected.

Bellingham Fire Department crews were dispatched to 1001 Hilton Ave. at approximately 10:55 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, after the fire was initially reported as a possible outdoor fire.

Dustin Michaelis, public information officer and fire captain with Bellingham Fire Department, said the initial report came from someone who was too far away to determine what was burning.

“Our crews were initially dispatched to what was reported as a possible outdoor fire,” Michaelis said. “The reporting party was from far away and could not determine what was on fire, they thought it could have been a large bon fire.”

Michaelis said dispatchers used cameras and information from multiple reporting parties to determine that a building was on fire.

“Through the use of cameras and multiple reporting parties, our dispatch team quickly determined that a building was on fire, and the incident was upgraded to a structure fire response,” Michaelis said.

Firefighters Pull Back Over Roof Collapse Concerns

When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire that had already penetrated through the building’s roof.

Crews initially attempted to attack the fire from inside the building, but conditions forced them to change tactics.

“Crews initially attempted to put the fire out from the interior, but had to exit the building with concerns of roof collapse.”

Dustin Michaelis, Bellingham Fire Department fire captain

Firefighters then moved into a defensive position and attacked the fire from above using ladder trucks.

“The firefighters then went to a defensive position and used our ladder truck and Fire District 7’s ladder truck to pour water streams in from above the building,” Michaelis said.

The building housed a cold-storage operation where frozen fish products were stored on pallets. Michaelis said all of the product inside was lost.

The cold-storage building was attached to office spaces, but those areas were not affected by the fire and did not sustain damage.

Cause Remains Under Investigation

Michaelis said determining the value of the property and product lost in the fire is difficult.

“The valuation of what was lost is difficult to determine and I won’t be able to give you an accurate dollar amount.”

Dustin Michaelis, Bellingham Fire Department fire captain

Firefighters remained at the scene until approximately 4:25 a.m. Sunday.

No injuries or fatalities were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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