Burglary suspected in two-alarm blaze in Union Gap shop

Burglary suspected in two-alarm blaze in Union Gap shop

By David Lester
Yakima Herald-Republic

UNION GAP, Wash. -- A two-alarm fire that damaged a transmission repair shop Monday morning is considered suspicious and came after an apparent burglary.

Worry about flammable liquids kept at the shop prompted a response from firefighters from six upper Yakima Valley fire departments.

Flames, however, were knocked down fairly quickly and damage was kept to a small office and storage area where the fire started, according to firefighters.

Investigators are now looking into the possibility that a burglary preceded the fire at Tidrick's Quality Transmissions, 920 W. Ahtanum Road.

Neither details about possible stolen property nor a damage estimate to the one-story corrugated metal building was available late Monday.

An employee arriving for work reported the fire at 6:47 a.m. Firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the front and rear of the building.

Fire damage was limited but the rest of the building likely incurred some smoke damage, said fire Chief Chris Jensen.

One Union Gap firefighter suffered a back injury while trying to maneuver fire hoses around vehicles parked near the building entrance. He was taken to a hospital as a precaution.

Jensen said Union Gap sought help from other area fire departments because the building contained flammable liquid.

"We rely on our neighbors for help for potentially larger incidents. It assures safety for crews and the community," he said.

Firefighters from Union Gap, Yakima, East Valley, West Valley, Selah and the Army's Yakima Training Center responded to the fire.

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