READER REPORT: Fire concern at east edge of Solstice Park

Reported by reader HL:

Last night around 840 – 9 pm during a walk on 44th Ave, my boyfriend and I came upon the wooded entrance to Solstice Park at the top of the stairs on 44th Ave. We saw that someone had started a fire next to the stairs, and upon closer examination saw that something like a piece of clothing had been lit on fire. A small fire which was two feet high and one foot in diameter had begun. I called out to see if someone was tending the fire and heard no response. At that point I ran to the neighbor’s house just north of the entrance, rang the doorbell, and a nice gentlemen named Alan answered the door. I asked for a bucket of water to put out a fire and he grabbed a gallon milk jug filled with water from his garden which I took and put on the flames. He followed with another bucket of water and we ensured everything had been extinguished. Only after leaving did we realize that the Head and Shoulders shampoo bottle next to the fire may have been filled with gasoline.

Stay cautious. Stay vigilant. Stay safe. We must protect each other!!!

We asked HL if anyone had called 911; they had not, since they’d put out the fire. We’d advise calling anyway; among other reasons, sometimes this type of thing can be part of a pattern happening in an area, which you wouldn’t know but the firefighters (or even police) might.

Suzanne August 11, 2026 (11:26 pm)

HL, thank goodness you came across this fire when you did. The fact that someone started this fire deliberately and then left a container that might have been filled with gasoline next to it is honestly terrifying. Yes, absolutely, please report this to 911. Whoever did this is likely to do it again.

Lisa in Arbor Heights August 12, 2026 (5:54 am)

Scary! Am thinking about the Spokane fires and the guy who started at least one biggie. They said he had lit 25 smaller ones earlier this year and no one knew until he admitted to them. Hope this isn’t similar, my goodness.

CarDriver August 12, 2026 (6:09 am)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! ALWAY’S call 911. Police(or)fire may or may not respond but 911 calls are RECORDED so there is a record. PLEASE NOTE: the non emergency number is NOT recorded. If you call it there’s NO record of that call being made

LISA August 12, 2026 (6:45 am)

Thank Heavens you 3 were heroes and saved some major probs from happening. This time of year lots of dry tinder like dry grass around.The nightmare of the Spokane fires, started by a pyro, is just the tip of the iceberg of human started fires. Anybody find the crime site of suspected arson should call fire dept, don’t touch anything, like the empty bottle as may have had fingerprints and help investigators gather evidence. ##STAY SAFE

Justin August 12, 2026 (6:51 am)

HL, thanks for your heroism!

Anne August 12, 2026 (7:11 am)

A big thank you for putting out the fire -but PLEASE-folks call 911 as well!!!!!

JH August 12, 2026 (7:36 am)

This is arson. Report it to SPD.

Meeee August 12, 2026 (7:55 am)

Of all the times you need to call 911 for the fire department to come it would be this situation.

Rara August 12, 2026 (8:01 am)

I think there’s a couple fire bugs out there. I know there have been quite a few dumpster fires in the Mt Baker area.

Jackson August 12, 2026 (8:13 am)

Yesterday the fire department responded to a fire just north of the Longfellow creek P-patch, if you see/ smell smoke or flames don’t hesitate to take action!