On July 2, 2026, an explosion occurred in the electrical room of an apartment complex located at 6400 S. 12th St., Tacoma, Washington, while firefighters were responding to reports of smoke. The Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) reported that no injuries were sustained by firefighters or residents. Firefighters arrived at approximately 5:37 p.m. after a resident activated the fire alarm, leading to the evacuation of eight buildings as a precaution.
Video footage captured the moment firefighters opened the door to the electrical room, followed by a powerful explosion that sent debris and smoke into the air. Officials stated that an electrical transformer malfunction caused the smoke to spread into multiple buildings. Residents were temporarily sheltered at Hunt Middle School while Tacoma Public Utilities and fire investigators worked to determine the cause of the explosion. The utility later allowed residents to return to all buildings except for one, where power restoration efforts were ongoing. The incident remains under investigation by the Tacoma Fire Department.