Ballard fire likely started with electrical equipment

The Seattle Fire Department is investigating how a massive fire started in Ballard Monday afternoon.

Officials say the cause remains undetermined, but they think it’s likely connected to overheated electrical equipment.

The three-alarm fire burned four businesses near the corner of Northwest Market Street and 24th Avenue Northwest. A fifth was damaged by smoke and water.

“When I came by yesterday it was only smoke coming out of the jewelry shop. Little did we know what was going to happen,” said Daniel Shurman, one of the onlookers as Seattle Fire worked on scene Tuesday.

Two-thirds of on-duty Seattle firefighters — about 150 — were on site battling the blaze Monday. One was injured and sent to Harborview for treatment.

A day after, the businesses are just burned out shells. Two restaurants, a kitchen store and a jewelry design shop were among the shops that are now mostly destroyed.

What comes next concerns Shurman. He’s witnessed the massive construction boom in the neighborhood and wonders if the small businesses burned in the fire will instead be replaced by condos.

Joanne Hughes lives in Ballard and owns a business in the neighborhood. Hughes feels the loss and wonders if the updated building codes will prove to be too much of a financial burden for the current small business owners.

“Do they want to spend that time, energy and blood, sweat and tears to get back to where they were after building their business for so many years?" Hughes said. “It’s really sad.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up for businesses and their employees.