The Flames of Pang

On a cold January night in 1995, a fire tore through a Seattle warehouse, drawing firefighters into a scene that was far more dangerous than it appeared. What began as a routine response quickly turned catastrophic, claiming the lives of four firefighters and leaving behind unanswered questions. Investigators would later uncover signs that this blaze was no accident, but a chain of hidden failures and silent warnings made the truth hard to see. Decades later, the Pang warehouse fire remains a haunting reminder of how quickly heroism can collide with disaster.

Reference List

Chan, Becky. “Four Seattle Firefighters Die in Arson Blaze at Mary Pang’s Frozen-Food Warehouse on January 5, 1995.” HistoryLink.org, 16 June 2020, www.historylink.org/File/3820
. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

Nalder, Eric, and Duff Wilson. “The Pang Fire: What Went Wrong — A Disaster Marked by Bad Preparation, Poor Communication, and Many Other Mistakes.” The Seattle Times, 11 June 1995, archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19950611/2125846/the-pang-fire-what-went-wrong----a-disaster-marked-by-bad-preparation-poor-communication-and-many-other-mistakes. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.