Major Blaze Erupts at Historic Temple Theatre in Tacoma
Fire Breaks Out in Downtown Tacoma
On Tuesday afternoon, fire crews were dispatched to downtown Tacoma following a significant fire at the iconic Temple Theatre building, as reported by the Tacoma Fire Department. The fire was first detected around 4:19 PM in the 00 block of St. Helens Avenue. According to Tacoma Fire spokesperson Chelsea Shepherd, the flames are believed to have originated from the roof of the theatre.
00 blk St Helens Ave, 4:19pm - TFD is on scene of a building fire downtown. Appears to be on the roof of the building. Please avoid the area while crews are actively responding. More to follow. pic.twitter.com/1wKCZL4rDP
— Tacoma Fire (@TacomaFire) May 12, 2026
The five-story building initially triggered a standard one-alarm response; however, due to the complexities associated with the high-rise structure, firefighters escalated the situation to a two-alarm fire. Footage shared online depicted thick black smoke rising from the rooftop as emergency personnel battled the flames.
Happening now in Tacoma 😳 rooftop of the historic Temple Theatre. #tacomawa #fire #templetheatre pic.twitter.com/msAYB9OWcd
— WX- Western Washington (@WashingtonWAWX) May 12, 2026
In a recent update on social media, Tacoma Fire advised residents and motorists to steer clear of the downtown area while firefighters continued their efforts at the scene. As of Tuesday evening, authorities had not confirmed any injuries related to the incident.
