Early on the morning of July 22, a fire broke out in a building under construction on Main Street in downtown Bothell. It quickly grew to three alarms. Fire departments from around the area came to fight the flames. Not only was the origin of the fire destroyed, the building across the street was a total loss. It housed a neighborhood café and several small businesses, some of which had no insurance. Luckily, no resident or firefighter was injured or killed. The fire could have been much worse, as many of the Main Street buildings are wood frame structures. Here’s a video link that gives a drone’s-eye view of the damage.
The fire was so hot, even the crane melted.
This is what’s left of the building that housed the Kozy Corner Café and other small businesses.
Since the fire, the city has rallied to support the business folk who lost everything. One brewpub held a benefit earlier in the week. Last night Julian and I went to a block party on Main Street. Surviving businesses were donating a portion of their profits to the cause. The local Rotary Club was taking up a collection for the firefighters’ fund. A band was playing. The Hop and Hound, a local drinkery, hosted a beer garden. And many people, including us, got their first chance to survey the carnage.
The community spirit is what impresses us the most about Bothell. Some of the outpouring is grieving the loss of longtime hangouts, but it’s also supporting folks who may have lost everything. Bothell will bounce back.
The sign sums it up.
An update: Last week’s block party netted over $60,000 to benefit the small businesses that lost everything. Main Street reopened today. Still no word on the cause of the fire.
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