Major fire overnight at empty Shoreline business

The building on Aurora which formerly housed NW Discount World was severely damaged by a three-alarm fire which started late last night in the old one-story building on the east side of Aurora that housed a second-hand office furniture business.  It was recently vacated.  The fire department was alerted just after midnight, and fought until 5 am to keep it from spreading. The Seattle Times provides this report.

Firefighters from Shoreline, Seattle, Northshore, Edmonds, Bothell, Kirkland and Mountlake Terrace worked through the night to bring the fire under control and keep it from spreading.  Smoke blanketed the surrounding neighborhoods and residents are advised to avoid breathing it as much as possible.

The fire was still smoldering this morning, and investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze, which follows at least 14 fires in the Greenwood area.  There had been reports of two small fires in dumpsters in Shoreline and speculation that the arsonist was headed into Shoreline.

Aurora was closed between 155th and 175th but reopened for the morning commute.

There are breaking news reports that a suspect has been taken into custody near the area.

We have contacted the Shoreline Fire Department and the Shoreline Police Department for updates.