UPDATE: Pickup fire on Alki Avenue SW

(Reader photo added, sent by Barbara)

11:58 PM: Police investigating a pickup truck missing a wheel in the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW discovered it was on fire. SFD is arriving and they’ve now told dispatch it’s “fully involved,” so they’re blocking traffic on Alki Avenue. The person in the pickup is reported to have gotten out. Police said the truck apparently lost its wheel in the 1900 block of Harbor Avenue.

12:27 AM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent images. This short clip is from Tom:

We don’t know the status of the fire but the engine sent by SFD is logged as still being on scene.

12:33 AM: This photo is from Jim:

And according to a related text, the fire’s out.

12:53 AM: Police told dispatch they’re reopening Alki Avenue to traffic.

Mita Padhi June 22, 2024 (7:32 am)

For note, as of 6:30 this morning Ali ave is still closed to cars and pedestrians.;starting alittle before don Armani lot.

WSB June 22, 2024 (7:36 am)

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Thanks. That’s because of the homicide investigation – separate story:
https://westseattleblog.com/2024/06/west-seattle-crime-watch-deadly-shooting-on-harbor-avenue/

Alki Jack June 22, 2024 (8:39 am)

The pickup was on fire and the entire back was consumed in flames. With Seattle Police watching the owner walked back to the burning pickup, opened the drivers side door, was in there for some time, apparently retrieving personal items. A short while later, the flames really raging, he went back in the passenger side and retrieved a backpack. Just after that, the inside of the pickup burst into flames. It was so dangerous, but officers did not stop him. He could not have had the slightest knowledge as to exactly when the inside would just burst into a ball of flames.

Jim June 22, 2024 (1:39 pm)

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I hesitate in commenting because police officers are under the gun as is but I thought he was indifferent to the risk taken by the truck owner. There was also no driver evaluation that I could see to assess driver sobriety nor did he do anything to impede cars that were passing right next to the burning truck. What if the gas tank had exploded? Officers do have flares to drop in the roadway to stop traffic. He just sat in his car and lucky for all, dodged a bullet. If this reflects broader department policy, maybe it’s time to revisit.
Jeff June 22, 2024 (2:36 pm)

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The police don’t even have a duty to protect you from immediate harm by others. It is no surprise that they aren’t jumping on a chance to save someone from their own risky choices. Life is messy that way sometimes.

WSCurmudgeon June 22, 2024 (10:02 pm)

Been “off island,” so just saw this and the Alki Ave murder piece.

Per police, the pickup lost a wheel at 1900 block Harbor Ave SW, and stopped 1200 block Alki Ave SW. That’s .8 mile per maps.It seems that the radio dispatch was made just before midnight. The police responders found the pickup stopped, noted that a fire had started, and called SFD.

It isn’t clear what the driver was doing, if anything, at this point. Per a vague narrative posted 08:39 AM (over 8 hours after the fire), the driver seemed unperterbed by the fire, gathered his personal items and left the scene without engaging with the SPD or the SFD.

Shortly before 1AM, SPD reopened Alki Ave SW to traffic. Unclear what happened to the burned PU truck, or its owner.

Shortly before 04:00 AM, residents report gunfire near 1000 Harbor Ave SW, and they find a dead body at that address, which is about 1000 ft E of where the pickup truck burned.

1994 June 22, 2024 (10:19 pm)

Too many weird and dangerous things happen during the night.

Alki Jack June 24, 2024 (8:09 am)

WSCURMUDGEON, you are so correct. The police did not engage with the driver in any meaningful way. Was he intoxicated or high? I went down Harbor Ave. S.W. the next morning. Starting before Salty’s and continuing to the scene of the fire, there were bits of tire rubber strewn everywhere on the curb side of the street. I ask…would someone with all their wits continue to drive for a mile with their right rear tire in that condition? Hmmm. Can you imagine the noise inside the truck for the tire to get so hot it ignited that fire? Plus he re-entered the truck twice while it was in flames with no interruption from SPD. What was he removing from the interior of the truck?? SPD doesn’t know. What was in the backpack??