Phinney Ridge and Greenwood

The Greenwood Fire which destroyed four Seattle businesses including the Taproot Theatre was declared an arson by the Seattle Fire Department today. Phinneyridge.org first began our reporting on the potential for arson on Sunday, October 25th, in a photo-essay linking the fire to four other arsons in the Greenwood neighborhood. Our hearts to out to the impacted businesses, particularly the Taproot Theatre. The Taproot Theatre confirmed their commitment to the Greenwood neighborhood in a statement released tonight:

Taproot Theatre Company is brokenhearted to learn that the fire that devastated four of our neighboring businesses and damaged our theatre was reported to have been deliberately set. When Taproot Theatre moved into Greenwood, crime in the neighborhood decreased almost immediately. In the years since, we’ve watched Greenwood blossom into a vibrant community that’s focused on the arts, promoting small businesses and protecting the environment—values that we promote, as well, and that represent the spirit of Seattle. Greenwood deserves to have a top-notch theatre in its midst, and we at Taproot Theatre love this neighborhood and will continue bringing people from across the region to Greenwood for years to come.

Over 100 Seattle firefighters bravely fought the blaze for over two hours to contain the damage and protect surrounding buildings, including the PAWS Cat City shelter for felines. The fire began at approximately 4am in the morning on October 23rd.

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