Ten hours after a five-alarm blaze erupted at Arnold’s Home Furnishings in the 3500 block of Kitsap Way in West Bremerton, firefighters are still mopping up hot spots.
According to Fire Chief Al Duke, the fire began about 2 a.m. and was reported by a passer-by. Witnesses said the 20,000 sq. ft. building was quickly engulfed in flames, and although there’s no word as of yet on the cause, apparently no one was inside the building and no injuries have been reported. The fire marshal’s office is investigating, looking both for witnesses, and hoping to find clues in surveillance video from nearby buildings.
At one point, up to 20 fire companies were on the scene battling the blaze, which destroyed the showroom portion of the store, where the fire apparently broke out. The showroom area encompassed about a third of the total structure. The business had been expanded several times through the years, but only the newest section was equipped with fire-suppression sprinklers.
Duke said firefighters originally hoped to prevent flames from reaching the warehouse third of the business, but the fire spread into the roof of the warehouse, and firefighters pulled back, opting to use hook and ladder trucks rather than risk injury to personnel if that portion of the roof collapsed.
Ralph Erickson, vice-president of Arnold’s Home Furnishings, was quoted in early reports as saying, “It’s the entire operation. None of it would be worth anything with the smoke damage and the water damage so the interior will be a total loss.” He later revised that assessment. Although the main showroom has been destroyed, it appears the portion of the building housing the Broyhill furniture collection - the section with the sprinklers - may be able to be salvaged, depending on the amount of smoke and water damage.
When electrical power was cut to the building, some 1,000 Puget Sound Energy customers lost power as well, but it was quickly rerouted to most of them.
Arnold’s Home Furnishings is a Kitsap County icon. Founded by Bremerton residents Wendell and Betty Arnold, the store originally opened in 1951. The location on Kitsap Way was later expanded to 66,000 square feet, making it the largest furniture store in Kitsap County.
Erickson hasn’t lost his sense of humor either, noting that with four inches of water on the floor, and running out of every available opening, “At least in this hot weather, our landscaping is getting plenty of water.”
Arnold’s Home Furnishings is opening temporarily in the old bowling alley on Marine Drive in Bremerton. They are taking orders by phone at 360-377-5582. Just go to their website, find what you like. They will order it for you and deliver.
