Neighbors worried about fires in Fauntleroy Park

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

That’s reader-contributed video showing the aftermath of a fire around 7:30 this morning in western Fauntleroy Park. What concerned the person who sent it, and another nearby resident we have heard from tonight, is that there have been multiple fires recently. Stacy said via email:

“I’ve lived next to Fauntleroy Park for 13 years. Today we called 911 because of a sizeable fire in the park, at our property line. SFD responded extremely quickly and put the fire out using shovels, rakes, a large hose of water and a chainsaw. We’ve spoken with neighbors and come to find out, this is the third fire in the park in the timespan of one week that the SFD has had to respond to and put out. And SFD says neighbors reported additional recent fires. … I don’t think anyone has seen any indication of an encampment at the sites of the fires. But the multiplicity is obviously concerning. … We are hoping others will be alerted so that they are careful and so that they let the fire department or police department know of any leads.”

We asked SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo about today’s fire, which was logged only as a “brush fire.” He replied, “I spoke to the firefighters that responded to this incident. They extinguished a small smoldering fire occupying a space of about eight feet in diameter. There was no clear evidence around the area that would have indicated how the fire may have started. No injuries were reported.”

D September 11, 2022 (12:32 pm)

Most likely it could be the following; one of those extremist groupies who want the world to burn are lighting them, a drug addict, or a teenager trying to light fireworks.

Neighbor September 11, 2022 (12:51 pm)

I have seen numerous small fires that someone clearly tried to start in Westcrest Park only since the encampments have been cleared. I know of only one that SFD was called to put out. The others appear likely to have not caught enough fuel to go on their own. It is obvious that some were intentionally set, not accidental.

Balderdash September 11, 2022 (1:22 pm)

We are hoping others will be alerted so that they are careful and so that they let the fire department or police department know of any leads.”

If ever the saying ‘see something, say something, do something’ was true, Fire is it.

Especially stopping firebugs/arsonists. Those jerks need to be stopped and stopped big time

Melissa September 11, 2022 (2:48 pm)

It would help to know where in the park this is happening so we can keep an eye out during our walks.

WSB September 11, 2022 (3:25 pm)

I wrote “western” part of the park. The incident yesterday was on the SFD log with an address in the 9200 blovk of California SW – which is on the west edge of the park – but that’s likely the address of the person who called it in.
- Melissa September 11, 2022 (5:06 pm)
  
  Thanks. The westernmost portion of the park goes from behind the Fauntleroy church up to the western extension of Roxbury, so that’s a big piece of real estate. It’s a surprisingly large park. This does explain the crowd we saw gathered at the dead end on Forest Court.
  - JC September 11, 2022 (7:53 pm)
    
    The crowd at the end of Forest Court was a block party they do every year as a community block watch event. I grew up on that street and my parents still live in the house since 1971!. The party was a lot of fun and getting to know the neighbors and great conversations on crime prevention and how to stay vigilant and see something, say something.

Audifans September 11, 2022 (9:16 pm)

Fire can be very deadly, particularly in this drought condition. If this is someone intentionally setting these, please notice and get some ID on who you see playing around with this stuff. By ID, I mean age, height, weight, tatts facial hair, hair color, skin color, clothing.It’s no joke if it is intentional…Down in Portland arsonists at Mt Tabor Park.. Comments made down there. “When people are starting these small fires, they’re not intending them to stay small,” he said. “They’re starting different fires as they’re moving down a trail, with the intent to either cause damage or give themselves some. A lot of these fires are along trails, spaced closely together, that indicates to our investigators that there’s some arson here involved.”…And arrests https://komonews.com/news/local/mt-tabor-arson-suspects-arrested-charged-with-multiple-counts-portland-oregon-multnomah-county

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