Valley Regional Fire Authority crews were dispatched to the 900 Block of E. Main Street at 11:11 am Wednesday morning after a call 911 reporting the smell of smoke. The Tommy’s Center strip mall houses Athens Pizza & Pasta House, Villa Barber Shop, Nail Master Too, Salon Focus, and Cascade Chiropractic & Massage.

vrfa, valley regional fire authority, athens pizza, athens pizza and pasta, cascade chiropractor, fire, auburn wa fire, downtown auburn fire, salon focus, nail master too, villa barber shop, south king fire and rescue, puget sound fire authority, puget sound fire, villa barber shop, nail master too, nail master 2, cascade chiropractic, cascade chiropractic and massage, cember 9 fire — Fire crews work to put out the fire in the awning over Salon Focus | courtesy VRFA

Two-Alarm Fire

Fire crews arrived at 11:14 am. Seeing “heavy dark grey and black smoke coming from the entire structure from the roofline” the fire was quickly upgraded to a second alarm, stated Brad Cheney with South King Fire and Rescue. South King Fire & Rescue and Puget Sound Fire Authority responded.

VRFA Public Information Officer Kimberly Terhune stated the fire mostly remained in the awning in the front of the building.

Cheney explained that “some of these buildings can be a challenge sometimes they do share a common attic space. And so basically it’s just an open run for the fire to spread quickly.

Extent of Damage

Salon Focus and Nail Master Too experienced the most damage, shared Terhune. The ceilings of both salons were both pulled down by firefighters. Each salon also suffered extensive water and smoke damage. It is unknown how much the equipment inside either salon was damaged.

The Villa Barber Shop suffered smoke and water damage, with minimal ceiling intrusion. It is unknown how much the equipment inside the barbershop was damaged.

Athens Pizza & Pasta House and Cascade Chiropractor & Massage have the least amount of damage. Each business suffered smoke damage and a little water damage. Several ceiling tiles inside Athens Pizza & Pasta House were also pulled down.

Fire Investigators estimate the total damages to be $175,000 for the structure and $75,000 for interior contents.

Best Case Scenario

Fire crews used an offensive strategy to battle the fire. Ventilation holes were cut into the roof permit smoke and heat to rise. This allowed firefighters to make quick access into businesses to check for anyone inside.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries. “Some of the businesses weren’t even open yet,” said Cheney, “so as devastating as a fire can be this is a really a best-case scenario that nobody got injured.”

Current Overload

Investigators quickly began their investigation once the fire was extinguished. They have determined the fire was accidental due to an overloaded circuit.

Fire Investigators determined the fire began in the “mansard shaped awning and spread into the structure,” shared Terhune. The fire began in the junction box of a ceiling in the awning.

Between the smoke and water damage, roof damage, and power loss, these businesses are expected to be closed for some time.