Firefighters from the Kent Fire Department and South King Fire and Rescue are assisting Highline Community College staff in Des Moines in cleaning up water damage following a small fire at about 8 a.m. Tuesday in the Community Outreach building in the 23800 block of Pacific Highway South.
The first indications of any problem began when a fire department unit was sent to investigate a fire alarm at the Outreach building, according to a Kent Fire Department media release. Finding smoke inside, the crew quickly upgraded the call type to a “commercial building fire,” which brought in additional resources.
Firefighters looking for the source of the fire discovered a desktop sized computer which apparently had caught fire, activating the sprinkler system. The sprinkler quickly extinguished the fire, though smoke from the fire had spread throughout the second floor of the building.
Because sprinkler systems continue to discharge water until they are manually shut off, there is an extensive amount of water throughout both floors of the building. Firefighters are working to protect computers and other valuables and to remove as much of the water as possible. A private company will do the final cleanup.
No one was injured in the fire. Students and staff are being directed to Building 8 of Highline Community College for further directions.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation Tuesday.
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