At 5:19 a.m. April 14, the Snoqualmie Fire Department, Eastside Fire and Rescue and surrounding fire departments responded to a large fire in a downtown Snoqualmie retail building at 8102 Railroad Avenue SE.
The fire, first reported by Snoqualmie Police Officer Corey Hendricks, who smelled smoke on a routine patrol through the area, fully engulfed the backside of the building before the Snoqualmie Fire Department declared it under control two hours later.
“Right now, we’ll declare the building on the backside is a complete loss,” said Snoqualmie Fire Department Capt. Jacob Fouts. “Preliminary cause is still yet to be determined, but we believe the fire to be accidental.”
The building is home to Chickadee Bakeshop and Snoqualmie Pie Company on the first floor and Littlest Wishes Photography on the second.
Snoqualmie Ice Cream, located on the front end of the building, sustained water and smoke damage, and will remain closed until further notice.
The building was unoccupied at the time and no injuries have been reported, according to a news release by the City of Snoqualmie.
“Over the next ten hours, we are going to have crews monitoring for any flare-ups or fire we didn’t get,” Fouts said. “Realistically, the building will be turned over to the building owner and their insurance company.”
Road closures at Falls Avenue SE are expected to continue throughout Sunday.
The King County Fire Investigator is conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
“It’s devastating for our community. There are three women-owned businesses in that historic building,” said Snoqualmie Mayor Katherine Ross at the site. “We will help the owners as much as we can.”
A GoFundMe to support the immediate needs of the business owners has been organized by the SnoValley Chamber of Commerce.