SUQUAMISH — Tom Beebee was minding his cards at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino’s poker table when the game was quickly interrupted the morning of Dec. 2.
“There was a fire alarm,” Beebee said. “Then a voice said, ‘Stand by until we ascertain what it is.’ “
But it wasn’t long before the chips were down for the whole casino, located on Highway 305 at the Agate Pass Bridge.
“Personnel came around to the card room and said we had to evacuate,” Beebee said.
Fire crews from Bainbridge Island, North Kitsap and Poulsbo responded to the casino shortly after 11 a.m. after a report of a car on fire in the casino’s west garage. The garage is connected to the casino.
The fire is believed to have started in a car’s engine compartment on the fourth level of the garage. There are no sprinklers in the garage, according to chatter on the police scanner when emergency crews were dispatched.
The fire spread to four neighboring cars before firefighters could knock it down with hoses from the ground level. Firefighters also patrolled the garage to put out the fire from up close. A couple of small explosions were heard and flames were seen shooting out from the garage.
After the initial fire alarm, personnel moved through the casino and told patrons to evacuate.
“I was on the gaming floor, playing slots,” Pam Johnson said. “They made an announcement, ‘There’s an emergency in the building,’ six times.”
Phyllis Schwerin of Tacoma was not far away at a slot machine when casino employees said she had to drop her game and leave.
“They said ‘Please stand by for instructions (over the speaker),’ and then finally a casino worker came by and said we had to evacuate out the front door,” Schwerin said. “They were herding us out.”
Casino patrons then watched the flames and smoke from the east parking lot as firefighters battled the blaze. Employees were rounded up in one location for a head count.
“Are there no sprinkler systems in the garages?” Schwerin asked while watching the effort.
The fire appeared to be under control by noon. Smoke had lessened and firefighters were up close to the fire.
