$1.5 Million Loss In Warehouse Fire -- Arson Possible In Blaze At Tacoma Furniture Business

TACOMA - More than couches, tables and lamps were lost when a fire, which caused more than $1.5 million in damage, engulfed a huge furniture warehouse yesterday afternoon.

Dorothy Harkness, owner of Harkness Furniture, at 6612 S. Tacoma Way for 52 years, explained: "It's kind of like watching your family burn down behind you."

Harkness' late husband started the store in 1940. His father had begun a carpet-cleaning business there in 1920.

Smoke was visible through glass double doors as she spoke from a large showroom filled with furniture. Behind her, firefighters finished work to control a blaze that had destroyed the business' 40,000 square-foot warehouse and contents.

Only a corner remained, and it was on the verge of crumbling.

Investigators are uncertain what started the fire, which began about 3:30 p.m. and sent up huge orange flames and smoke visible from miles away.

Arson was being considered a possibility, however. Police are investigating reports of a man seen near the warehouse shortly before the fire started, said a spokesman for the Tacoma Police Department.

Nearly $1 million in furniture was destroyed. The building's value was estimated at between $500,000 and $1 million.

The only injury was to a firefighter who sprained an ankle, said Gary Conklin, Tacoma Fire Department spokesman.

Conklin said the fire spread quickly because the warehouse contained synthetic fabrics, cardboard packing material and wood furniture, all highly flammable.

"It was built to burn," he said.

The fire was first noticed by warehouse workers who saw smoke coming from the roof. None of the workers was in danger.

Several single-story apartments next door were less than 20 feet from the flames but never threatened.

Lyle McCartney said he was driving by when he noticed the flames, and pulled over to help. He got a garden hose from a nearby business and climbed atop to spray the roof.

"My first thought is always people," he said. "There could have been people in there."

About 50 firefighters worked for 1 1/2 hours to control the blaze.

If the building had had sprinklers, it would have been a different story, according to Conklin."We'd already be home."

Instead, he said firefighters probably would be on the scene through today to look for potential hot spots.

In the showroom, it will be different. This is the business's busiest time of the year.

"We'll be open," said Dennis Timmerman, Harkness controller.

After comforting her son, David Harkness, general manager of the business, Dorothy Harkness tried to be positive.

"No one was hurt and there was no damage to the main building," she said. "We have a lot to be thankful for."