Kent firefighters extinguished a fire started by transients inside a vacant building Tuesday morning along West Meeker Street.
Firefighters responded at about 8:56 a.m. to a building fire just west of the Monte Carlo Pub, 1617 W. Meeker St., according to Puget Sound Fire Capt. Joe Root. When fire units arrived, multiple people were inside the former concrete block-style convenience store that has been vacant for years.
“Most fled the scene before or as crews arrived,” Root said in an email. “The few that were still exiting and the one that had to be rescued also denied treatment and fled the scene.”
The fire commander on the scene reported that transients had started the fire.
Root said he was not sure how many people were inside the building. There was minor damage to the building, which will be secured by a private contractor.
A quick search of previous fire calls didn’t indicate any prior calls to the address, Root said.
Fire crews blocked West Meeker Street between 64th Avenue South and Russell Road for part of the morning due to the fire.
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