Valley Regional Fire Authority crews were dispatched to a fire at the former Cools Cafe shortly after 5:30 am this morning. The vacant bar and grill off of A St SE in Pacific has been closed for over five years.
Initial entry into the building was difficult due to the vacant building being boarded up. Firefighters withdrew from the building after approximately an hour due to low visibility, switching to a defensive tactic.
VRFA, South King Fire & Rescue, and Puget Sound Fire & Rescue crews used multiple methods to attack the relentless fire. Deck guns on two ladder trucks doused the flames that licked out of the building’s collapsing roof.
“As a precaution, one VRFA firefighter was transported to Multicare Auburn Medical Center for an evaluation,” stated VRFA Public Information & Education Officer Kelly Hawks.
Nearby homes and businesses experienced a power outage as a result of the fire. “Due to the proximity of the fire to our transmission lines, and for the safety of the fire crews on scene, we de-energized the lines that feed the substation in that area affecting 9,192 Auburn/Pacific customers. Our equipment didn’t experience any damage,” said Andrew Padula, PSE Media Engagement Program Manager. Power was restored within an hour.
Heavy equipment was brought in the early afternoon “to tear down the walls so firefighters could better access the fire.” stated Hawks. Crews remained on scene look for and put out hot spots.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Investigators were on scene and expect to begin their investigation today.
This is the second fire in this location within two years. The back of the building was damaged in an April 2018 fire. That fire was determined to be caused by squatters.
Editor’s note: Being a large incident right next to the road, this fire obviously impacted traffic. Cars were 
moving slowly, but the flow was constant. With the number of photos and videos posted on social media of this incident, I feel compelled to remind folks to please keep your eyes on the road. Folks from VRFA were crossing the road regularly enough that looking away to take a photo or video could have ended very badly. So please, put the phone down and remember that no photo, text, video, social media post, call or anything that pulls your attention from driving is worth it. #itcanwait.
Last updated 12/1/2020 2:39pm
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Cool’s Cafe started out in the late 1960’s as a small general store, one of only two along the East Valley Road (A Street) between Auburn and Sumner. The other store was located just at the intersection of East Valley and Forest Canyon Road east. Cool’s started out as a store, then went to a cafe, then to the bar and grill later. And yes…the owner’s real name WAS Cool. He was asked that from time to time.
I believe he also owned the small trailer park next door, at least for a while. No big deal, but I know these things because I grew up on a small farm not far from the Cafe. It was right next door to the old Dieringer School. That property now belongs to Petersen Brothers Construction.