Fire Rips Through Storage Unit Complex

A firefighter suffered a strained back and was taken to a hospital.

A spokeswoman said the fire was under control, nearly four hours after it started. Foam was used to extinguish spots that were still smoldering.

The fire destroyed 15 of 20 units in the building. Cars, furniture and boxes of other property are gone or damaged. Firefighters kept flames from spreading to three other buildings in the complex.

Spokeswoman Helen Fitzpatrick said the fire was difficult to fight because of the densely packed storage units. Also, firefighters first had to stay off the roof because it partially collapsed. Then they had to remove part of the metal roof to reach hot spots.

The fire was reported around 4 a.m. out at the Shurgard Storage complex in the 9200 block of Olsen Place Southwest near Myers Way, southwest of the First Avenue South bridge in White Center.

No injuries were reported and the cause was under investigation.