An adult male was injured Monday during an explosion and fire in the auto repair shop where he worked.

The Kent Regional Fire Authority, Maple Valley Fire Department, King County District 44 and King County Medic One responded to the call in the 15300 block of SE Kent Kangley Rd (272nd Street) at 10:40 this morning. When firefighters arrived, they found a small strip mall automobile repair shop with smoke coming out of a garage bay door. The victim was quickly located and evaluated by medics before being transported to a local hospital.

Firefighters extinguished a small amount of fire, though the business’s sprinkler system activated and controlled the fire as it was designed to do. Unfortunately, the uncontrolled water cascading from the ceiling mounted sprinkler system quickly forced motor oil and other petroleum products into the parking lot and into the storm drain system.

Using absorbent pads to soak up as much oil as possible, firefighters worked to keep the pollution from getting outside the immediate property. According to the Department of Ecology, who was called to the scene, approximately 150 gallons of oil were released to the outside by the incident. All of the oil was contained on site and none got into nearby Jenkins Creek.

The second business in the strip mall was not affected by the incident. Kent Kangley traffic was rerouted for an hour while emergency crews worked on the incident.

A Kent RFA investigator is working to determine the cause of the explosion.

For more information on the cleanup effort, please contact the Department of Ecology:

Dept. of Ecology, Northwest Region

425-649-7009 o

206-920-2600 c

@ecyseattle