About 11am this morning, several Whatcom County Fire District 7 (WCFD7) apparatus raced to the soon to be open Starbucks location at the intersection of Main Street and Dick Stone Lane.
WCFD7 Division Chief Ben Boyko said a recently installed dishwasher had begun smoking and then burst into flames. Boyko credited a contractor on the scene with knocking down the fire with fire extinguishers before firefighters arrived.
Boyko said there was no damage to the building at 1894 Main Street but there was a coating of powder from the fire extinguishers and a residual smell of burnt plastic. WCFD7 firefighters could be seen ventilating the building.
Starbucks representatives recently announced plans to open the new location this Friday. Officials were unavailable to comment whether the fire might delay the opening. Update 1/19/18 – Company officials say the opening is scheduled for Monday, January 22nd.
