Another driftwood fire at a West Seattle beach

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A texter sent that photo today of charred driftwood at Weather Watch Park, to which the fire-call log indicates SFD was summoned multiple times on Sunday. The first was for this (thanks to John-Michael for the early-morning photo):

The subsequent calls were from people concerned that the burned logs were still smoldering, SFD says; the texter says that was still continuing at sunset. This comes a month after a fire burned driftwood “forts” at Lowman Beach, also very early in the morning. So far, though, SFD’s investigator hasn’t been brought into it.

CarDriver July 29, 2024 (6:15 pm)

Were there any people associated with this log fire? What I read here is that when SFD arrived there was nobody around?

WSB July 29, 2024 (8:27 pm)

Not that I know of. Sorry, they don’t provide us with detailed reports such as “we found out about this when person x called from y and reported that they saw …” (That level of detail would generally require a PDR, which takes months.) Sometimes neighbors or bypassers with more information speak up after we publish short stories like this.

Jim July 29, 2024 (7:00 pm)

This is getting extremely frustrating they need to put an unmarked police car around to do some late night driving and bus whoever is doing this before they decide that they want to burn something more critical than driftwood

Lee Kelly July 29, 2024 (11:53 pm)

We have had multiple, large, driftwood fires at Lowman requiring SFD assistance. These have been purposely set arson fires, not campfires that have gotten out of hand.
A police report was made. Case# 24-172188

EPAresearch July 30, 2024 (9:19 am)

According to EPA research: wood smoke is 12 times more toxic than a cigarette. it is a deadly carcinogenic that those people are polluting our breathing air with. Add to that a fire hazard. I would seriously suggest that nearby neighbors set up a ‘game camera’ (does Video upon motion activation, and records it. it is battery operated and made for outdoors. Then you should be able to get these Air polluting idiots identified. Please take the time to do this.: it helps the entire community) This needs to stop.

West Marge July 30, 2024 (3:09 pm)

Sounds like you have a little project on your hands! Love it when a neighbor has an excellent idea that they would like to implement and observe! ORRRRRR…. we just stop the constant flow of driftwood. That might be another way to take this activity away from the random arsonists.
- Trunk July 30, 2024 (7:12 pm)
  
  What do you mean, “stop the constant flow of driftwood”? How would you propose to do that?
  - West Marge August 1, 2024 (8:22 pm)
    
    Oh Trunk, you don’t actually think I’m serious, do you? You’ve just encountered something called “sarcasm”. We can’t stop the driftwood any more than we can stop the arsonists

Gretchen July 30, 2024 (12:11 pm)

I noticed this morning that there is a large stump at the north end of Lincoln Park on the beach that was recently burned. It still smelled smoky when I walked by.

EPAresearch August 2, 2024 (10:01 am)

I’m following up on my previous comment regarding using a game camera to get pictures of the people doing this burning and polluting the air and beach. I do not live nearby so don’t assume that is something I’m personally doing.: YOU people (that live in proximity) need to protect your air quality and the beach. I’m writing again to encourage you to Contact the department of Ecology …and also the EPA and find out from them who can pick up the driftwood and get it out of the area. I know with certainty that in the past a boat has with a large hoist/arm has removed driftwood from the shoreline in West Seattle (to keep it from drifting out and damaging the shipping lane and ferry boats) .. They might also intervene because the blackening and burned material harms the waterfront itself …in addition to the toxic smoke. So someone who lives there: PLEASE make contact. with department of Ecology and EPA.. They are very responsive and helpful agencies to protect our air and water. Take action

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