Astoria is no stranger to fires. In 1883, and again in 1922, downtown Astoria was devastated by fire, partly because it was mostly wood and entirely raised off the marshy ground on pilings, according to the website of the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Even after the first fire, the same format was used, and the second time around the flames spread quickly again, as collapsing streets took out the water system. Frantic citizens resorted to dynamite, blowing up entire buildings to stop the fire from going further, the site reported.

On Thanksgiving evening 2008, a fire consumed a half city block in downtown Astoria, resulting in the death of resident Roger Martin. Believed to be caused by a plugged-in hot plate in the former Astoria Florist Shop, the fire took Cabys coffee shop, Bank of America, Tokyo Teriyaki and Ravens Studio with it. Martin lived above the flower shop. The buildings have since been rebuilt.

Mayor Willis Van Dusen said the fire Thursday night reminded him of a similar situation in the 1970s, when an old fish processing plant, called the TBR?Bargain Barn at the time of its demise, burned down, right next door to this one.

He said it was a much bigger structure fire with fuel tanks inside.