READER REPORT: Smoldering driftwood at Lincoln Park

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

If you’ve noticed more charred driftwood today at Lincoln Park, note that it has been reported to police. The photos and report are from a texter:

Someone is setting fire to logs at Lincoln Park again. This is across from picnic shelter 3 on the south side.

It’s still smoldering right now and there’s also a half-burned log at the picnic shelter.

The fire did not appear to have been reported to SFD, so we suggested the texter do that, since it was “smoldering”; they reported back, “I called 911, and they transferred me to SFD, who transferred me to SPD because I think nothing was actively on fire. Then they transferred me to non-emergency, who surprisingly answered in less than 2 minutes.” (Side note, it was mentioned at a recent community meeting that the non-emergency line is being covered at least some of the time again. Nonetheless, the advice remains, start with 911.)

beach bum July 14, 2025 (12:32 pm)

I have reported at least two driftwood fires (all out) to the fix it find it app. in the last month and they have responded by saying thanks for reporting that but fires on the beach are not allowed….

Neighbor July 14, 2025 (2:09 pm)

What do you expect Find it Fix it to do about a burned driftwood log?
- beach bum July 14, 2025 (6:02 pm)
  
  talk to the park department about the problem….
Derp July 14, 2025 (3:16 pm)

Please call SFD when you find these.

bolo July 14, 2025 (12:38 pm)

There are also several charred logs at Lowman Beach park.

Marina July 14, 2025 (1:09 pm)

Do you happen to know if the Lowman logs are recent or from a year or two ago?
- Kyle July 14, 2025 (3:20 pm)
  
  I noticed some at Lowman a few weeks ago as well. Appeared to be newer.
- bolo July 14, 2025 (3:30 pm)
  
  Good question, not sure.

Rats July 14, 2025 (1:59 pm)

Why is it so difficult to get those in the enforcement field to actually enforce the law (s). Ongoing illegal burning on the beach is just the latest example.

WS Resident July 14, 2025 (2:27 pm)

If there’s a fire, call 911 and report it to the FD. They may or may not get there in time to stop the entire park forest to burn to the ground, but at least it’ll get the fine firefighters to come take a look!

Mike Mahanay July 14, 2025 (2:32 pm)

This has been happening at Lincoln Park daily for weeks. There are also campfires on the grass. Yes there is a firebug out there! We should all be concerned. Apparently parks does not think this a a big enough issue to have the new rangers come by after dark.

Neighbor July 14, 2025 (2:34 pm)

Is this fireworks? Just a summertime phenomenon of more people on the beach? I see it on beaches all over the state.

Terri Ann July 14, 2025 (3:06 pm)

Early this morning (around 7:20 am) I saw Seattle Parks employees using water to put out one or more of those logs.

Actually Mike July 14, 2025 (4:33 pm)

I reported the smoldering logs at Lincoln Park to Seattle 911 at 9am today–the operator sounded unimpressed. Maybe they didn’t bother to send SFD?

florida July 14, 2025 (8:14 pm)

The sea wall across from Me kwa mooks park on beach drive has a new mural painted on it. Someone started a fire and burned some of it, also leaving char on the pavement. This isn’t normal around here

Westsidegirl July 15, 2025 (6:47 am)

Thank you for getting this onto the blog so we can all be watchful. This is a very.SERIOUS risk, so please report any and everything! You don’t want to be dealing with a huge fire from not paying attention. Things are dry to the bone right now. Please be watchful and call 911. And ask them to transfer you to the fire department.

D-Mom July 15, 2025 (12:04 pm)

I’ve seen signs of random fires in the woods over the last 2 years, on trails, in areas there should not be fires. Also, my friends just reported a guy sitting off a trail lighting a fire. They called 911, but he disappeared before they got there. And I had to call 911 because of a fire in Fauntleroy Woods last year. So please, please keep your eyes peeled for fire activity to protect our natural areas and report it.

Sorry, comment time is over.