Early Morning Fire Singes McLendon Hardware

Renton Fire and Emergency Services' Battalion 12 responded to a small fire at in Renton early Thursday morning, shortly after midnight.

The incident occurred in the covered lot at the south end of the building, according to Renton Fire and Emergency Services officials. The sprinkler system activated to control the small fire located against the metal outside wall of the covered storage lot.  

Engine 11 also arrived at the scene and shut off the sprinkler system.

Officials determined the fire started in a plastic garbage container that contained rags and empty containers of a linseed oil based finish. The finish had been used on customized wooden boxes.  

The fire extended up the side of the metal wall to a large plastic crate on top of the metal storage rack about 7 feet above the garbage can, according to officials.

The 9-1-1 center, Valley Communications, contacted a McLendon Hardware manager, who drove to the store to meet with the Renton Fire Department, which in turn instructed the manager on safe practices for handling and disposing of rags used to apply linseed oil based finishes.

The Fire Investigator estimated damages “at $5,000 to contents and $0 loss of property.”

The total content of the McLendon Hardware store in Renton is $2 million, according to the Fire Investigator's report.

McLendon Hardware managers did not return calls from Renton Patch for comment.