A Seattle explosion has left nine firefighters injured and has destroyed several businesses. The explosion occurred in Greenwood, Seattle as firefighters were responding to a natural gas leak on Wednesday.
Seattle was rocked by a blast on Wednesday morning at around 1:45 a.m. In a series of tweets posted by the Seattle Fire Department, it was revealed that the incident occurred in the Greenwood neighborhood in Washington while 70 firefighters were responding to reports of a natural gas leak.
According to official reports, nine firefighters (one female and eight males) were hurt (the injuries are non-life-threatening) during the blast and were rushed to a nearby hospital. Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg confirmed that eight firefighters and a battalion chief were treated at the facility in the early hours of Wednesday.
Gregg revealed that five were treated and released early Wednesday, and four others were in the process of being discharged. Gregg said:
“We didn’t have anybody with burns, nothing life-threatening, nothing major…some firefighters were sent to the hospital to be checked out because the blast was so powerful it pushed them back.”
Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Corey Orvold stated that they do not believe there are other victims, and no one has been reported missing. Nonetheless, dogs are being used to go through the rubble just in case. While no lives were lost, countless businesses including a coffee shop, a gyro shop, and a mini-mart were damaged by the explosion. Josh Coolbaugh, who lives in the area, said he thought the blast was an earthquake and added:
“Thought it was an earthquake; way too loud to be a gunshot. So I got out of bed, checked on the family, and my family’s good. So I went outside and saw smoke.”
Coolbaugh said he called few business owners in the area to tell them about the explosion. Crews were able to shut off natural gas in the neighborhood and Puget Sound Energy spokeswoman Christina Donegan said a survey team will move in to investigate the cause of the explosion.
Firefighters are working to try and secure area businesses at N 85th and Greenwood Ave. pic.twitter.com/DA6OylQmG2
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) March 9, 2016
Photos of surrounding businesses display the damage of this mornings explosion at N 85th and Greenwood. pic.twitter.com/J5R31dqBhi
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) March 9, 2016
Some of the damage from the explosion. pic.twitter.com/BXmzDshnr7
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) March 9, 2016
Fire crews fighting fire at 85th and Greenwood Ave N. pic.twitter.com/oKcYArYx3y
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) March 9, 2016
Firefighters continuing to fight a fire at 85th and Greenwood Ave. pic.twitter.com/6ZhDpwIhPJ
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) March 9, 2016
We have a total of 67 SFD personnel at 85th and Greenwood. Total includes firefighters, command staff and medics.
— Seattle Fire Dept (@SeattleFire) March 9, 2016
