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3-alarm fire burns at Federal Way apartment complex
Multiple fire crews are responding to a large fire that is burning through a Federal Way apartment building.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Multiple fire crews responded to a large fire that burned through a Federal Way apartment building on Wednesday evening.
The fire was reported just before 5 p.m. in the 35200 block of 21st Ave. SW.
South King Fire said they were able to rescue a victim from the top floor where the roof had collapsed moments before.
Investigators say one person had minor injuries and went to the hospital, and a firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat-related injuries. A dog named Poncho was also rescued from an apartment and given oxygen.
Firefighters said the fire spread quickly due to the dry heat and the hot temperatures. They were able to get the fire mostly under control in the span of three hours.
Thirty-six units were in the building. According to South King Fire, the city of Federal Way has opened up the Community Center in partnership with the Red Cross to provide temporary shelter for 20 individuals displaced by the fire.
Crews won't begin their investigation until Thursday, or possibly later, due to structural safety concerns. However, investigators tell FOX 13 News they believe the fire started on the second floor.
One person, who didn't want to us her name, tells us she came to visit her family at the apartment complex. When she got there, she saw the massive flames.
"My family was not out. My family was in there. They didn’t even know what was going on the outside," she told us.
She says she banged on the doors and windows of the units to get other people out.
King County Metro provided a bus for people who were displaced from their homes to stay cool in the sweltering heat.
Beau Bliner says he saw the flames from his window. So, he went out and got cases of water bottles for the people affected by the fire.
"There is still some compassion in the world," said Valerie Campos about Bliner's effort.
This is a developing story.