A fire at 22 North housing in Bellingham has displaced several residents
A fire Tuesday night at 22 North, a supportive housing building located on State Street in downtown Bellingham, left no injuries but several people have been displaced, according to Capt. Dustin Michaelis of the Bellingham Fire Department.
The fire was reported around 9:30 p.m. April 22, and fire investigators believe it was caused by a candle that was left burning by a tenant on the third floor. The candle caught other material on fire, and it spread from there, Michaelis told The Herald in an interview Wednesday.
The fire suppression sprinklers activated and doused most of the fire. When firefighters arrived, they targeted hot spots and had the incident under control quickly, according to Michaelis.
Most of the damage to the building was water damage caused by the sprinklers.
“We are currently working with residents to assess needs and arrange temporary accommodations where necessary. The safety and well-being of our residents remains our top priority,” 22 North Communications Director Emily Martens said in a statement. “At this time, we are still gathering details and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”
Thirteen tenants were relocated to temporary accommodations for the night. Some of them had mobility issues and were moved because the elevator was out of service following the fire, Martens told The Herald.
Officers from the Bellingham Police Department were called in to control traffic in the area during and after the fire, according to Lt. Claudia Murphy with the Bellingham Police Department.
This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 9:41 AM.
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