Four people, three dogs escape two-alarm fire at Mike’s Deli building early Thursday

The fire in progress at Mike's Deli, courtesy of Fire District 1.
The fire in progress at Mike’s Deli, courtesy of Fire District 1.

Updated at 2 p.m. Thursday with additional information, photo from Fire District 1

Four adults safely escaped an early-morning fire that caused heavy damage to a deli-mart in Edmonds.

The fire was reported at about 3:50 a.m. at Mike’s Deli-Mart in the 23200 block of Edmonds Way. “Fire dispatchers received multiple calls from neighbors and people driving by reporting flames coming from the building,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1, which provides service to the City of Edmonds.

The building also houses a barbershop with an apartment above it. “The four adults were asleep in the apartment when a stranger pounded on the door and told them to get out because the building was on fire,” Hynes said. “The residents escaped with three small dogs.”

The back of the building was engulfed in flames when the first firefighters arrived from the nearby Esperance Fire Station 20. “They could smell the smoke as they left the station and there were 30-foot flames when they arrived,” Hynes said.

The fire went to a second alarm. About 36 firefighters from Fire District 1, Lynnwood and Shoreline were on the scene at the peak of the fire. No one was injured.

It took about 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. The building’s construction and a cell phone tower with high-voltage equipment posed challenges for the firefighters, Hynes said.
“Fire got into the parapet and there was some concern it might collapse. Firefighters working on the roof cut holes in the side of the parapet to get at the flames,” Hynes said.

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fire. Investigators said it may be days before they have a cause. They said the building may be a total loss, mostly due to extensive damage in the attic and parapet.

A storage area at the back of the deli was also heavily damaged and there is smoke and water damage throughout the store. The barbershop and apartment have minor smoke damage. The apartment residents displaced by the fire are receiving assistance from their insurance company.

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Posted at 7:30 a.m. Thursday:

Four people and three dogs living in an apartment above Mike’s Deli at Edmonds Way and 232nd Street Southwest safely escaped an early-morning two-alarm fire that closed Edmonds Way for about two hours Thursday, Snohomish County Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said.

The fire was called in about 3:50 a.m. after passersby saw flames — some up to 30-feet high — shooting from the back of the building, Hynes said. At the peak of the fire, 36 firefighters were on the scene.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire and the estimated cost of damage was unknown as of early Thursday.

Hynes said that the people who escaped the fire did have insurance.

We will provide more details and photos as soon as they become available.

 

  1. So sorry to hear about this. Mike’s is a great store and provided much needed service in the area. Happy that people got involved so that the inhabitants were all able to get out. Thanks to the fire departments for their service. Our communities have to keep our emergency services strong and equipped by our votes and our taxes (and not let the politicians hold them for ransom).
    Hope Mike’s will be able to re-open. They would be greatly missed if not.

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