Remote Surveillance Trailer in Renton, WA

The City of Renton is excited to welcome Alaska Airlines to Renton as they opened their new training facility earlier this month.

With our long history in aerospace, not only in Renton but specifically near the Longacres area where Boeing operated for many years, it’s fitting that Alaska’s new training facility has chosen Renton as its home.

The new facility

This 660,000-square-foot training center is located on a 19-acre property near Longacres, at 1301 SW 16th St. neighboring our friends at the Seattle Sounders.

This state-of-the-art facility will train thousands of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines employees, learning to be flight attendants, pilots, and customer service agents. Included in the facility is a 737-cabin simulator to help flight attendants practice fitting oxygen masks on each other, simulate a crash landing, and train on scenarios like luggage catching on fire. Pilots can use the flight simulator to practice both short- and long-haul flights on Alaska’s current routes.

Training previously was spread across five buildings in SeaTac.

Where opportunity takes flight

Renton continues to solidify its reputation as a premier hub for business and innovation, consistently attracting organizations with lasting legacies looking to establish strong foundations, such as the Seattle Sounders, Wizards of the Coast, and Providence. This new addition is a valuable asset to the city, further strengthening our workforce and stimulating economic growth,” said Gina Estep, City of Renton Community and Economic Development Administrator.

“Alaska Airlines is one of the critical employers in the Northwest, with over 30,000 employees, and we’re honored to have Renton be the primary training destination for their staff. We’ve seen the Seattle Sounders headquarters take up residence at the redeveloped Longacres site, and along with the Alaska Airlines training facility, we look forward to the addition of more major employers, housing, retail, and entertainment to the neighborhood,” said Mayor Armondo Pavone.

With the new transit center coming to Renton in 2028 and long-term planning underway for the Longacres area, this space will continue to grow and evolve best to serve the needs of both our workforce and residents.

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RENTON, Wash. - An electrical fire at a Renton condo left one person dead and now firefighters are confirming that the victim called 911 for help from inside their unit before they were found dead.

What they're saying:

"It was engulfed very, very quickly," said Kevin Seven, a neighbor.

Seven said he didn't realize his next-door neighbor's condo was on fire until he heard people climbing on the roof and saw debris coming in through the chimney.

"All of a sudden, I saw black smoke, ash, soot, in our living room," said Seven.

Because he didn't hear an alarm, he first thought it was just maintenance workers.

"All of a sudden, a firefighter crashed through our fence telling me to evacuate immediately," said Seven. "I proceeded to collect my mother, and we evacuated through the backyard."

Eric Autry, PIO of the Renton Regional Fire Authority, says when they got the 911 call from the fire victim at around 10:34 am. They were on scene in four minutes.

"Once I managed to get her to a safe place, I turned around and number 2 was smoldering in smoke," said Seven.

Renton Fire spokesperson Eric Autry says investigators couldn't confirm where the victim was located when they called 911, but they were found dead on the second floor.

He says at least one other person who lived in the unit wasn't home at the time.

"My condolences to the family of number 2. My prayers are with them," said Seven.

"You obviously feel for the people who were the homeowners, their neighbors, family and friends. This is awful," said neighbor Steve Munson.

Fire investigators believe the cause is electrical.

"There was no fire alarm that went off, so again, very shocked," said Seven.

Autry says it's not clear if the smoke detectors were working or not, but says it's a good time to remind folks of the importance of smoke detectors in the wake of the tragedy.

"Talk to your neighbors about electrical outlets, make sure they are up to code, you don’t want to be strangers," said Seven.

Firefighters say a cat was also rescued from neighboring unit #1. Firefighters say the Red Cross is assisting other fire victims.

The Source: Information in this story came from the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority and original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle.

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