SEATTLE — The Seattle Fire Department says city engineers are trying Thursday to determine whether a century-old building in the International District is stable enough for investigators to look for the cause of a Christmas Eve fire.
Spokesman Kyle Moore says firefighters are so concerned the three-story building could collapse they put up yellow tape to create a “collapse zone” to keep people a safe distance away.
City officials could decide to condemn the building.
The top two floors have been uninhabitable for years. Eight businesses on the first floor have been closed by the fire, including a bakery, restaurant and aquarium.
The building housed Chinese immigrants in its early days. It’s also known for the 1983 Wah Mee massacre where 13 people were killed by robbers in a gambling club.
