🚨 Fire Incident at Carpenter Road Safeway in Lacey

If you shop at the Safeway on Carpenter Road in Lacey, you may have noticed some unexpected activity earlier this week.

According to shoppers and emergency responders, a faulty ice machine caught fire inside the store, releasing smoke and prompting a swift response from the Lacey Fire Department.

🧯 What Happened
The incident occurred when an in-store ice machine reportedly malfunctioned and ignited, causing smoke to fill parts of the building. Several shoppers said they noticed a strong chemical smell lingering in the air while they were inside.

Store staff acted quickly — unplugging the machine and awaiting first responders.

While the situation was brought under control without major damage, some shoppers expressed concern that they weren’t notified of the fire while still inside the store.

👨‍🚒 Fortunately, the Lacey Fire Department responded quickly, contained the fire, and cleared the scene.

🏪 Is the Store Still Open?
Yes — Safeway is back to normal operations following the incident.

There was no extended closure, and no reported injuries. However, the store has not publicly commented on the communication protocol or any potential safety improvements moving forward.

📍 Location:
Safeway — 6200 Pacific Ave SE / Carpenter Road SE
Lacey, WA 98503

💬 Why It Matters
This kind of behind-the-scenes incident is a reminder that even routine shopping trips can take a sudden turn. It's also part of a broader conversation about how retail staff and emergency services communicate with customers during on-site incidents, especially in busy, high-traffic locations like grocery stores.

Thankfully, this one had a clean ending, but it’s the kind of everyday story that affects thousands of South Sound residents and deserves a quick recap.

📨 I’m Aaron Thomas, a local realtor sharing stories about growth, development, and real-life updates across the South Sound.
Every Friday, we publish the South Sound Report, covering what’s next for Tacoma, Olympia, Lakewood, and beyond.

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