News of the day: large fires engulfed warehouses in Fremont and Ballard, and the Seattle Kraken hockey club announced the appointment of Patrik Allvin as vice president and a new assistant coach.
Seattle fire: Blaze engulfs commercial warehouse in Fremont
In Seattle, Washington, fire crews are battling a large blaze that has engulfed a commercial warehouse in the Fremont neighborhood. The alarm for the fire at the building located in the 800 block of NW 42nd Street was received by emergency services, and within minutes the first units arrived and confirmed active fire. The fire, which began as a two-alarm incident, was later upgraded to a third alarm, which means significant additional resources were brought in to fight it.
At the moment, as an official representative of the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) reports, crews have encountered difficulties trying to enter the building to apply water directly to the seat of the fire. As a result, the decision was made to switch to a defensive firefighting strategy: firefighters are operating from a safe distance to avoid undue risk and are dousing the flames from outside. Evacuation of people from the building is also underway to ensure no one is harmed by the fire or toxic smoke.
City officials are urging nearby residents to close all windows and doors to prevent noxious smoke from entering their homes. Drivers are being asked to avoid the area because roads are closed to allow unimpeded access for fire apparatus. So far there have been no reports of injuries. According to KOMO News, the situation remains tense, and details are being clarified as new information becomes available. Specialists still need to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.
For those unfamiliar with the terminology: a "working fire" means firefighters have confirmed active burning that requires immediate action. A "defensive strategy" is used when direct access to the seat of the fire is impossible or too dangerous, so efforts focus on protecting neighboring structures and containing the spread of flames. An upgrade in the alarm level (from 2 to 3) indicates the fire poses a serious threat and all available city resources are mobilized for suppression.
Seattle firefighters battle large warehouse blaze in Ballard
In north Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, a large fire broke out at a commercial warehouse and quickly became a two-alarm incident. According to komonews.com, fire units were dispatched after a report of a blaze that began in a building used for storing goods and materials. Flames and thick black smoke rose high above the area, drawing the attention of local residents and causing significant traffic disruptions on nearby streets.
Eyewitnesses reported the fire occurred during the day, and firefighters arrived quickly to contain the blaze, which affected a substantial portion of the structure. The incident impacted not only the warehouse spaces but also posed a threat to adjacent commercial properties. Authorities closed several streets to ensure safety and unimpeded access for fire apparatus. Photos published by the outlet show dense plumes of smoke enveloping the building while firefighters train powerful streams of water on the seat of the fire in an effort to prevent further spread.
Notably, the article lists the date June 11, 2026, which may be a typo or the result of a technical error in publication, since the current date at the time of reporting does not match that year. Nevertheless, the incident underscores the importance of emergency services being prepared to respond rapidly to large fires in densely built industrial areas. Firefighters were able to gain control of the situation, though the exact cause of the blaze and the extent of the damage remained unclear at the time of publication. Local authorities urged drivers to avoid the area until conditions returned to normal.
Kraken bolster management: Patrik Allvin named vice president and assistant GM
The NHL’s Seattle Kraken announced a significant strengthening of their management and coaching staff. On Thursday, the team signed Patrik Allvin, the former general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, who will take the role of vice president and assistant general manager. This move reunites him with Seattle’s current general manager Ron Butterill — the two previously worked together with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where they achieved notable success, including three Stanley Cup victories (2009, 2016 and 2017). In Pittsburgh, Allvin rose from being a European scout to assistant general manager, demonstrating his systematic approach to player evaluation. As Butterill noted in the team’s official statement, Patrik will work closely with him, and his primary responsibility will be professional scouting — a department critically important for building a competitive roster.
Interestingly, Allvin joins Seattle after a controversial spell in Vancouver. In 2024 he was a nominee for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award after the Canucks won their division for the first time since 2013. However, the following season the team dramatically fell off and finished last in the league. That contrast makes Allvin’s hiring as a personnel expert particularly intriguing for Seattle, which itself is looking for stability and a rise in the standings.
At the same time, the Kraken addressed a coaching-staff vacancy by announcing the hiring of Pascal Vincent as an assistant coach, reports The Seattle Times. Vincent, named AHL Coach of the Year in 2025 for his work with the Montreal affiliate Laval Rocket, has NHL assistant coaching experience with Winnipeg and Columbus. During the 2023–24 season he also briefly served as Columbus’s head coach. His arrival follows the departure of Jessica Campbell, the first woman to serve a full season behind an NHL bench as a coach. Campbell had focused on player development and acted as a bridge to video coaches. While fans hoped she might lead the Seattle Torrent in the new PWHL, the club announced the promotion of Kristin Bamsted, who became the team’s new head coach. Thus, the Kraken are not only strengthening their front office with a high-profile hire but are also restructuring the coaching staff by bringing in a specialist recently recognized for excellence in the AHL.
