One of Seattle’s landmark waterfront restaurants, Ray’s Boathouse, burned in a spectacular fire on May 26, 1987. A wiring problem beneath Ray’s pier caused plumes of smoke, which spread up into the restaurant through the kitchen floor and prompted the evacuation of customers and staff. Some 50 to 60 fire fighters, plus 20 fire trucks and boats fought the four-alarm blaze for more than four hours. When the fire was finally out, only Ray’s iconic neon sign remained standing. Fortunately, no one was injured and the restaurant reopened on April 9, 1988.

Here, fire fighters move one of the boats that had been kept at the pier. A number of boats were damaged.

Caption information source: The Seattle Times, May 27, 1987.