Kent fire investigators wait to enter destroyed carpet recycling facility to determine cause

It is expected to take at least until Wednesday before Kent Fire Department investigators can enter a destroyed recycling facility for carpeting and carpet padding to try to determine the cause of the fire.

It is expected to take at least until Wednesday before Kent Fire Department investigators can enter a destroyed recycling facility for carpeting and carpet padding to try to determine the cause of the fire.

A two-alarm fire Saturday burned down the building.

Fire investigators are not expected to gain access to the building until later this week due to the instability of the building. The insurance company is working with a contractor and engineers so safe entry can me made. It is expected to take several days to investigate given the magnitude of the fire and unsafe building, according to a Monday email from Randy Droppert, Kent Fire Department spokesman.

Firefighting crews from Kent and nearby departments responded to the fire at approximately 4 p.m. First-responding crews found heavy black smoke and flames from the structure in the 700 block of Central Avenue North.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The building is a total loss with structural collapse of exterior walls and parts of the roof complex. The building was unstable, preventing crews from entering the structure, fire officials said.

There were no employees in the building at the time the fire began. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.

Firefighters battled a stubborn fire, primarily because it had deep piles of carpeting and carpet padding and because access to the fire was limited.

Crews from Auburn, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila, North Highline and King County Medic One assisted the Kent Fire Department.

There is no damage estimate available.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Future female firefighters learn key skills at workshop

32 women participate in firefighting, emergency medical services training

t
Kent pedestrian killed in April 21 crash identified

Vicente Islas Gomez, 50, died of multiple blunt force injuries along Central Avenue South

Courtesy File Photo, WSDOT
Section of State Route 167 in Kent to be fully closed night of April 24

From 10 p.m. Thursday, April 24 to 4 a.m. Friday, April 25 between S. 180th Street and S. 212th Street

t
Kent man wanted in DV incident reportedly ‘has left the area’

Avon Cobb still on the run; flashbang device might have caused fire at Auburn business where he fled

Courtesy Photo, Comcast
Some Comcast, Xfinity Business customers lose service in Kent

Vandals damage cable line; service expected to be restored by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22

The city of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Female inmate, 45, dies while in custody at city of Kent jail

Found unresponsive Tuesday morning, April 22

t
Kent male pedestrian, 45, struck and killed by vehicle

Man was crossing Monday night, April 21 in the 900 block of Central Avenue South

t
WSDOT plans nighttime lane closures in Kent on I-5, SR 516

April 21-27: Northbound I-5, certain directions of SR 516

t
Kent Police to host prescription drug take back day

Drop off medicines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday, April 26 outside of Kent Police Department

t
33rd Legislative District sets Telephone Town Hall for April 29

District includes part of Kent; call hosted by Sen. Orwall and State Reps. Gregerson and Obras

Kent Police officers will carry the latest Taser 10 model produced by Axon Enterprises. The gun can fire more shots and at a longer distance than the older model. COURTESY PHOTO, Axon Enterprises
Kent Police add latest Taser model to officers’ equipment

Taser 10 can shoot more shots at a longer distance; department also adds dash cameras

t
Kent crime numbers drop dramatically in first quarter of 2025

All categories down compared to first three months of 2024; commercial burglaries drop 62%