A major fire broke out at the Seattle Boat Company yard in Seattle’s University District at about 02:00 local time on Wednesday March 22nd.
The first crews from the local fire department to reach the scene found that the dry rack storage shed at the yard was on fire, and that about 30 boats were affected. No one was inside the structure at the time.
The fire department dispatched additional units, including the fireboat Chief Seattle and units of the Seattle Harbour Patrol. The US Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology deployed float booms around the site. The fire was under control by about 03:30.
During the response, a middle-aged man was found in a small boat next to the facility. Seattle Police escorted him out of the area, and he was taken to a hospital for evaluation. After he was discharged from the hospital, police arrested him on suspicion of arson.