UPDATE: Fire closes ramp to Highway 509

(Reader photos sent by Julie)

3:28 PM: Texters say at least one of the ramps to 509 at the end of the Roxbury corridor is closed because of that fire. SFD calls it a “brush fire” so far and says it’s affecting the ramp to northbound 509 at Cloverdale.

4:10 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and the last two engines on scene will be wrapping up their work.

9 PM: We asked SFD about what firefighters found. Spokesperson David Cuerpo replied, “I spoke to the crews and they confirmed fires occurred within encampments in two separate areas on opposite sides of SR509. The fires are extinguished, and no occupants were found. One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was relieved for the day.”

Sarah August 16, 2023 (4:27 pm)

So many roadside fires, most started by folks throwing their burning cigarette butts out the window! I counted 7 charred areas today along the freeways I was driving. No words…do some people really not understand that this is not a good idea?

Question Authority August 17, 2023 (8:18 am)

Actually vehicles are also responsible for many roadside fires due to equipment failures, hot debris such as catalytic convertor pellets, bearings and brake parts.

V August 16, 2023 (4:39 pm)

Again? How many times does this area catch on fire before something is done about all the encampments around there?

V. Mussen August 16, 2023 (4:47 pm)

Huh, I wonder what it was that caught the brush on fire? Maybe ignoring all those blatant safety violations happening in our greenspaces isn’t such a great idea after all?

Andrew August 16, 2023 (5:49 pm)

Drove right by there earlier coming home from work(2:45ish) and saw the homeless encampment and had this weird feeling that this would happen. Looks like there was already a brush in that same area previously.

James August 16, 2023 (8:21 pm)

Brush fire so I hope everyone doesn’t jump to conclusions blaming homeless

Question Authority August 17, 2023 (8:10 am)

Well it certainly wasn’t caused by lightning and brush doesn’t spontaneously ignite so again per SFD it’s careless campers.
SlimJim August 17, 2023 (9:18 am)

If I didn’t jump to conclusions wouldn’t get any exercise at all. Looks like it *was* caused by a homeless encampment. Let’s not stick our heads in the sand James and pretend this doesn’t happen.

AR August 16, 2023 (9:15 pm)

SFD confirmed they were caused by the encampments (per WSB posting above) with one firefighter sustaining minor injuries.

Shawn August 16, 2023 (10:32 pm)

The update said it occurred “within” the encampment not necessarily because of the encampment. You would think if it was caused by the dwellers in the encampment they would know by now and charges would be fired. Brush within encampment is no less susceptible to a random brush fire than brush outside of it. I just would want to see more detail given.
- Question Authority August 17, 2023 (3:35 pm)
  
  Charges against who? I’m sure someone is just waiting to admit guilt and take the rap for causing it, and what brush fire just miraculously erupts without reason in the middle of an encampment? If we’re placing bets I put my money on the alien lasers from space scenario because it makes the most sense.

Marcus August 17, 2023 (3:24 am)

Okay, the fires are at homeless encampments presumably started by homeless campers. Is this just another thing we need to accept????

K August 17, 2023 (4:06 pm)

The encampment fire near Mercer the other day was caused by an arsonist. Do homeowners automatically get blamed for fires at their own homes? Why do you assume the homeless are setting fire to their own living spaces until someone proves otherwise?
- snowskier August 17, 2023 (5:35 pm)
  
  Actually the man arrested for starting the fire at Mercer was living there and had a candle light other things on fire. It wasn’t intentional but the fire was caused by a homeless camper. SFD confirms that these were also encampment fires. In the last few weeks, I count Harborview along I-5, Mercer and this one. Seems a pretty good idea to clear out these encampments before other fires start, more firefighters get hurt and something major burns.
  - CAM August 18, 2023 (10:10 pm)
    
    I agree with you snowskier. So much so that I’d like to also see us clear out all the houses to stop accidental fires from starting in houses, where most of them start really. Fire prevention is important and we should all do our part.
- SlimJim August 17, 2023 (6:37 pm)
  
  What I’m assuming is a lot of these start accidentally due to drug smoking. Ever been outside anywhere in Seattle? There are people smoking drugs (and cigs) all over. Maybe not intentional fires but also not those lasers from outer space some would like to believe.
  - K August 17, 2023 (7:04 pm)
    
    But why do you assume that of homeless people and not housed people? There are far more people with addiction issues who have housing than those who don’t. I’m not really asking about how fires start, I’m asking why you assume the worst of homeless people but, not housed people. Bias has no place in problem-solving issues.
    - SlimJim August 17, 2023 (11:13 pm)
      
      Assuming many homeless have drug and alcohol problems isn’t assuming the worst about them. It’s not a judgement about what kind of people they, are it’s merely a statement about what many people, sadly, are stuck in. It’s really not even an assumption that many homeless have addiction problems. It’s a known thing among those who serve them (social workers, police, fire, EMTs, etc.) & it’s not hard to see for any of us who get around the city and have our eyes open.To say a person has an addiction problem is different than calling them an addict if (and when) I slip up and categorize someone as an addict I try to correct myself, BUT, I also try not to pretend homelessness and addiction are unrelated. That really does them a disservice. We will never be treating root causes of homelessness if we ignore drugs and pretend it’s all a mere economic problem.
- Question Authority August 17, 2023 (6:52 pm)
  
  You should read the well published articles on the cause (a candle) not an arsonist.

Sorry, comment time is over.