Seattle firefighters used a defensive attack to contain a fire that destroyed the Wayne Apartments, an historic three-story building in the Belltown neighborhood Thursday morning.
The fire was reported just after 4 a.m. and firefighters found the first floor boarded up with heavy fire on the second and third stories.
After forcing entry and completing a primary search, conditions changed and firefighters found the fire had spread to the attic, the fire department shared.
Crews pulled out of the structure over concerns of structural stability. Within minutes, a second alarm was called and flames shot through the roof.
Handlines and aerial ladders were put into place to control the fire and to prevent it from spreading.
The fire was under control in under two hours and investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
According to KING5.com, the building was built in the 1890s and received landmark status in 2015. The building was set to be demolished later this year.
