Seattle Fire responds as loud puffs of steam pulse from Seattle Central heating system malfunction

A cloud of steam above Seattle Central

What sounded like a giant train puffing across Capitol Hill overnight was Seattle Central’s aging infrastructure letting off a little steam.

Actually, a lot of steam. For hours.

Thanks to a reader in the CHS Facebook Group for capturing the scene on video

Seattle Fire rallied a full response early Monday just after midnight after reports of smoke pouring and pulsing from the roof of the Broadway college’s main building. As crews struggled to gain access to the building, it was determined the situation was the result of steam pulsing from a ventilation shaft connected to the school’s steam-powered heating system.

SFD crews were on the scene for two hours making sure there was no fire and then working with the school to figure out how to shut the steam line off.

In the meantime, the early morning around Broadway and Pine was filled with the kachug kachug kachug of the steam’s pulsing escape into the night sky.

Thanks to a CHS reader for the pictures

CHS reported here in 2022 on Seattle Central’s early efforts to address the campus’s aging infrastructure. Officials said the school’s steam heating system was “at the end of its anticipated life.” Without money in the state budget, SCC was pursuing the creation of a partnership to “generate as much of our heating, cooling, and electric power needs on campus as possible and without the use of fossil fuels” by partnering with private entities to construct and operate a clean energy central power plant on campus.”

It is not clear what progress has been made on the plan as the school’s efforts to develop a new six-story Information Technology Education Center on Broadway have also been stalled.

In 2024, the school said the project would have a $22 million price tag and require “a blend of local funds, state contributions, and other financing mechanisms.” As of two years ago, SCC had invested $2 million through grants, including a $700,000 federal energy grant secured by Seattle City Light, in the project.

Officials said then college leadership had recommended launching the funding effort in the 2027-2029 budget plan.

The school’s aging infrastructure can be costly. A 2024 burst water pipe did major damage to the SCC Fine Arts building and led the longterm closure and eventual exit of SIFF from the Egyptian Theatre. The theater finally reopened — without SIFF — this spring.

The school is also facing cost-cutting changes. CHS reported here on plans for a sale of SCC’s Wood Technology Center property along 23rd Ave in the Central District as the Seattle Colleges system faces ongoing budget woes.

Seattle Fire reported no injuries in Monday’s incident.

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