Yakima Fire Blamed On Welding Spark

Fire investigators said yesterday a welder sparked a spectacular fire that destroyed two large downtown buildings, including a former fruit warehouse being renovated as a shelter for the homeless.

The fire caused at least $1.5 million in damage, destroying the landmark C.M. Holtzinger Building that was on the National Register of Historic Places. Two blocks of Yakima Avenue, the main downtown thoroughfare, remained closed yesterday because rubble clogged the street. No one was hurt.

Fire Chief Jerry Beeson said the remaining outside walls would be knocked down and the rubble cleared before the street could reopen. He could not say when that would be completed.

Fire crews yesterday continued pouring water on the smoldering ruins of the three-story, 100,000-square-foot building. Also destroyed was an adjacent former fruit warehouse recently purchased and used as a storehouse by Michelsen Packaging Co.

An employee of the mission apparently touched off the fire shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday, Fire Department investigator Mike Meyer

said.