2:09 PM: Thanks to Jamie for the tip – if you’re headed toward I-5 north, it’s slow going just north of the bridge because of a fire Jamie describes as “under the freeway.” Brush fire, according to the SFD 911 log.
ADDED 2:23 PM: Thanks to Cory for the photo, added above.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: SFD spokesperson Corey Orvold tells WSB that this remains on the books as a “brush fire” and was not investigated otherwise.
I know its been a little dry, but I wonder how a brush fire started there?
Brush fire is how SFD’s log categorizes it, but certainly that could change.
There are often campfires under the freeway along that stretch by the old Rainier brewery, presumably from homeless encampments. I regularly see smoke drifting up from below when I’m getting on I-5 north from the West Seattle bridge.
We went by right before the first fire truck pulled up and there were people beneath the freeway watching it burn. Probably about 20 ft from fire.
Is the location actually an unofficial homeless campsite?
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Weather has been cold, and there are many camped in and under that area.
There are usually a sprinkling of tents under the bridge, so it could at least be explained by a small camp fire that got out of control. (Wild guess on my part.)
SFD has now closed out of the call, and it wasn’t apparently big enough for them to tweet anything about it, so chances are we won’t know a cause until I can check with their public-info officer on Monday. Marshal 5 wasn’t dispatched so apparently not suspicious. – TR
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Also, does not appear a medic unit was dispatched, so here’s hoping nobody was hurt.
Sna is correct. My dad saw this start up just as he was getting off 90 on his way over to the peninsula. He said their campfire had just gotten out of hand when he drove past.
I called 911 last night (1/1/16) at 5:45 p.m. and reported the fire. It smelled like homeless campers were burning tires. Interesting that it happened two days in a row…
Well, if you exit I-5 at Dearborn and look around, or if you get in a back up anywhere on I-5 between I-90 and the West Seattle bridge, you will see that there are a LOT of people camping in the area. Directly under the highway would probably be preferred because it would be protected from the rain.
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I don’t know when/how the city decides to allow the camping. In some ways that sight might be tolerated because it doesn’t interfere with a business, school, family home, etc.
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But there are mountains of accumulated trash. Plenty of that accumulated trash would be combustible.
Per The Seattle Times reporting on the homeless, between City of Seattle & and King County there is $76 Million per year spent on the homeless or services for the homeless.
I am thinking the City and County should purchase some property and set up an official campground with a shower/toilet house, coin operated laundry, weekly camping fees….why not? Many of the homeless say they want to continue camping. I also understand many would like a home.
wow…the word campers is such a pleasant word…like it’s a holiday for these people. It’s damned cold out there…have you slept outside in 25 degree weather? Homeless refugees, maybe? Yes, some would rather pitch their tent illegally than live in a tent city. And be able to keep what little they have with them. Sadly if they are “helped” to move from these illegal spots, usually it’s done with prison labor, and if they aren’t with their belongings when it happens, it ends up in the garbage..yep, kick ’em when they’re down. And I’m sure there are some posters on here who don’t give a damn that these are human beings, bleed like we all do, and feel that they deserve whatever. Sad…many of us are a month or two from being there ourselves..
which is worse? freezing people or a brush fire?
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the city will use this as an excuse to close out this illegal encampment but those people will still end up somewhere setting fires somehwere to keep warm.
Put yourself in the shoes of the homeless. I wouldn’t want to live in one of those established camps, and I’m sure they’re more focused on STAYING ALIVE than following the recent burn ban. These are humans!
Why can’t I have my IRS payments go directly to these people rather than the IRS?
The interstate right-of-way is state property. It is the responsibility of the state, not city, to enforce trespassing issues there.
Lots of things in this city must be the states responsibility because we have so many issues not being addressed by the city at any given time.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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