On eve of cleanup, 3-vehicle fire at encampment by 1st Avenue South Bridge

As we reported last week, the city plans to start a cleanup tomorrow at the sprawling encampment on the West Seattle side of the 1st Avenue Bridge. This past hour, SFD responded to what’s been described as a 3-vehicle fire there – two cars and one RV. No report of injuries. Police are investigating. How many people remain at the encampment is unclear; state and regional homelessness-response spokespersons told us last week that 30 people have been placed in shelter/housing.

Pinto March 20, 2023 (6:56 am)

“ A record 310 homeless people died in the Seattle area last year from fentanyl overdoses” LA Times.

AT March 20, 2023 (10:23 am)

Sad. And how many housed people?
- Burgerman March 20, 2023 (1:11 pm)
  
  AT – how many of those refused referrals to housing, or wouldn’t follow the rules of housing referral, and self-bounced themselves back where they could do as they please without repercussions? Sad that those choices may have resulted in their deaths, because if drugs were involved, we could have tried to do something about that, but nonetheless, I’d be interested to see how many chose to not accept referrals or play by the rules.

CarDriver March 20, 2023 (7:08 am)

WSB. Will you be able to find out what was removed from this mess? Wondering how much stolen cars/property will be discovered.

Sillygoose March 20, 2023 (8:29 am)

Humm burning the evidence?

The Earl March 20, 2023 (9:48 am)

hmmmm…go figure…one of many microcosms of lawlessness allowed to thrive in the emerald city..

Derek March 20, 2023 (10:39 am)

Lawlessness. You mean like Durkan and her deleted text messages? Or developers skirting build codes? Starbucks not paying employees their due wages? Surely you don’t mean the poor who have very few options who are constantly exploited by Big Pharma…
- Question Authority March 20, 2023 (11:19 am)
  
  You seem to disregard the overwhelming facts that Big Pharma is now Mexican Cartels and the illegal drug trade flooding the market.
- all of the above March 20, 2023 (11:51 am)
  
  Derek, I think there are lawbreakers all up and down the chain, from politicians/developers/corporations/poor/homeless/mentally ill/drug users. Do you propose laws be written differently for each?
  - Burgerman March 20, 2023 (1:14 pm)
    
    Yes, he does.

Jeepney March 20, 2023 (10:24 am)

That area will be an ecological disaster for decades to come.

Burgerman March 20, 2023 (1:16 pm)

Why? The area is not that big. It could be dug up and re-soiled and planted with relative ease, if the bureaucrats don’t stand in the way.