UPDATE: ‘Major brush fire’ response along Sylvan Way

8:41 PM: Seattle Fire has upgraded a response in the 2400 block of SW Myrtle to “brush fire/major.” This will also affect traffic on Sylvan Way. Updates to come.

8:48 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent the photo. Firefighters are using a hydrant at Home Depot, so the fire is west of there.

8:52 PM: Firefighters just told dispatch it’s under control after burning an estimated quarter-acre.

9 PM: Reader video from Austin Reimers added. Firefighters are now searching the woods to be sure no one was injured (added: after finding an encampment in the area). The address is also revised on the SFD log to 24th SW/Sylvan Way.

9:31 PM: Firefighters have reported to dispatch that the fire is “tapped” (out).

JD Roger August 26, 2021 (8:44 pm)

Drove by just as the first fire truck was pulling up on Sylvan. Looks like the homeless encampment in the woods went up, and it was enormous.

Derek August 27, 2021 (8:29 am)

There is no “encampment” over there. I live by here. Stop posting stuff like this to drum up anti-houseless sentiment.
- SlimJim August 27, 2021 (9:53 am)
  
  Well Derek, according to the fire department (if I read the WSB wording correctly) there was an encampment there.
- flimflam August 27, 2021 (9:56 am)
  
  Huh. WSB said above in the updates that an encampment was indeed found there. Why is that hard to believe?
  - WSB August 27, 2021 (10:11 am)
    
    Source:
    https://twitter.com/SeattleFire/status/1431104327599345665
- anonyme August 27, 2021 (11:06 am)
  
  You mean, like the truth? Encampments are a danger for everyone, including their inhabitants. They should be removed expeditiously as a safety precaution, and because it is inhumane to do otherwise. Pretending not to see the problem does not mean it does not exist.
- JD August 27, 2021 (11:56 am)
  
  I also live over here. There is clearly an encampment in those woods, if you didn’t notice it it’s because you weren’t looking. The fire was very clearly in it. As others have said, it was confirmed by the FD. I have nothing against the homeless, but that doesn’t make it untrue that there was a fire in a homeless encampment.
- Jeepney August 27, 2021 (5:24 pm)
  
  The first step towards solving a problem is admitting that there is a problem.

Auntie August 26, 2021 (8:56 pm)

Any mention of the cause?

WSB August 26, 2021 (9:13 pm)

Investigation follows finishing extinguishing the fire, which they’re still doing – it was under control fairly quickly but that doesn’t mean totally out.

Don Won August 27, 2021 (10:39 am)

There are multiple encampments in the Delridge corridor as well as Riverview/Highland Park area.66 years in this area, you notice these things

bill August 27, 2021 (1:43 pm)

If for no other reason, these homeless people should be housed for our own self-interest. This fire could have spread to adjacent houses. Encampments under bridges threaten fire damage to the structures. The encampment underneath the southbound 99 to Spokane St ramp burned in July. It did minor damage to the concrete. I have reported the similar encampment under the Alaskan Way flyover at S Atlantic, but the reply email evinced complacency and utter lack of concern.

wscommuter August 27, 2021 (2:41 pm)

There are two hard truths meeting each other. We have a homeless crisis and that results in some of these unfortunate folks living in the urban woods + we have an environmental crisis which leads to exceptionally dry conditions in the same woods. It is inevitable that with folks cooking in our greenbelts that we are going to get urban forest fires. We should all give that some thought. Perhaps finding shelter for these folks so they aren’t living in the woods isn’t just about helping our less fortunate brothers and sisters; perhaps some of that benefit is in protecting the neighborhoods that abut the green belts too.

Sorry, comment time is over.